TK 435 
.El 
1924 
Copy 1 



Electrical Record Series 
of Practical Information 


ESTIMATING 
WITHOUT LOSS 


THE GAGE PUBLISHING CO., Inc. 
461 Eighth Avenue New York, N. Y» 






























ESTIMATING 

» » 

WITHOUT LOSS 


EMBRACING NINE UNUSUALLY 
INFORMATIVE ARTICLES AND 
ILLUSTRATED WITH CHARTS 
AND FORMS IN ACTUAL USE. 




THE GAGE PUBLISHING CO., Inc. 
461 Eighth Avenue New York, N. Y. 


Wipe 


Copyright 1924 

The Gage Publishing Company tnc. 
New York 




v ‘ n 



AUG 23 74 

©Cl A 80155 5 

7 Z / VA> 1 


CONTENTS 


ELECTRICAL RECORD Prize Estimates for Wiring 5 

A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring in 
New Frame Houses—Part I. By Harry C. Turnock 21 

A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring in 
New Frame Houses—Part II. By Harry C. Turnock 35 

How to Use Job Factors. By J. Gilston. 45 

New Standard Wiring Symbols for Buildings. 51 

Why Logical and Accurate Estimating is Necessary. 

By Campbell Higgins. 55 

Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult. 

By Campbell Higgins.... 71 

Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for 
Pricing. By Campbell Higgins.—. 87 

Simple and Accurate Method of Keeping Labor Cost 
Records. By Campbell Higgins...107 









The articles composing 
“Estimating Without Loss” were originally 
published in Electrical Record. 


ELECTRICAL RECORD PRIZE 
ESTIMATES FOR WIRING 


E LECTRICAL RECORD offered two cash prizes 
for the best wiring estimates on a seven- 
room house, the judges being C. L. Eidlitz, C. 
Higgins, P. C. Menges, L. C. MacNutt, W. Worces¬ 
ter, W. Liebfield, W. E. Sobey, L. Dierlinger, C. L. 
Rider, J. Gilston, H. M. VanCleaf. 

After careful consideration, the first prize was 
awarded to Harry C. Turnock, of the Hatfield 
Electric Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and the second prize 
to Samuel N. Galvin, of the Galvin Electric Equip¬ 
ment Co., Buffalo, N. Y. 

The whole purpose of the contest was to get 
more contractors to give greater thought to find¬ 
ing the true costs of their jobs. That this is 
needed is brought out conclusively, for there was 
a wide variation in the estimates for the same 
kind of work. 

Estimates for a knob and tube job varied from 
$112 to $259, a difference of over 140 per cent. 
Costs of labor varied 175 per cent, and material 
costs, over 125 per cent. For the armored con¬ 
ductor work estimates varied from $175 to $331 
or over 85 per cent. 

The estimates for labor on this type of con¬ 
struction varied somewhat over 100 per cent, and 
material costs, as high as 80 per cent. From such 
data it seems certainly necessary that electrical 
contractors scrutinize their costs more closely 
until they at least find out somewhere near what 
such costs are, and short cuts on which most 
jobs are estimated by nearly all contractors may 
be made on a more intelligent basis. The remedy 


5 



Estimating Without Loss 


lies with contractors themselves and only they 
can correct the situation. 


Conditions of Contest 
Type of Construction: 

The job was to be figured in knob-and-tube, ar¬ 
mored cable, conduit or a combination of all three 
types of construction, but contestants were to 



First Floor Plan of seven room house on which estimates were based. 
Note specification for outlet heights and types in living room, dining 
room and kitchen. 


clearly state in making returns the particular type 
or combination figured. 

Service Entrance: 

If local central station published rules covering 
character and construction of service entrance and 
meter equipment which must be installed by con- 


6 


SEAT 











































































































Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 

tractors, these rules were to be followed by con¬ 
testant and a copy attached to return. 

If local central station did not publish or en¬ 
force special requirements for service entrance, 
this term was understood to cover means of 
entering the building such as detail of conduit 
riser on outside wall, entrance switch and cut-out, 
meter protective and testing devices or other com¬ 
monly used appliances employed for service en- 



Second Floor Plan on seven room house on which estimates were based. 
Any improvements on layout were to be clearly noted on estimate. 


trances in the contestant’s community, and were 
figured accordingly in preparing estimates. 

Number of Circuits: 

The job was to be figured as requiring three (3) 
tw T o-wire branch circuits to be divided over the 
outlets shown in the accompanying plans in the 


7 





















































































Estimating Without Loss 


most economical manner which could be devised 
by the contestant. 

Panel Cabinet: 

A surface type panel cabinet containing a four 
circuit panel cut-out and located adjacent to the 
meter board in the basement was to be included in 
estimates. 


Outlets: 

Approved outlet boxes or plates were to be fig- 



Basement Plan on seven room house on which estimates were based. 
Special attention was paid to service entrance requirements. 


ured for all outlets regardless of the type of the 
outlet or class of construction. 

All receptacle outlets were to be figured as at 
chair rail height or approximately 30 inches above 


s 




















Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 


the floor, except receptacles shown on living room 
floor plan, which were to be figured as baseboard 
receptacles. 

Switches: 

All switches were to be of standard flush push 
button type, and were figured as installed com¬ 
plete with plates. 

/ 

Flush Receptacles: 

All receptacles were to be of standard flush 
double T type, and were to be figured as installed 
complete with plates. 

The two receptacles shown on the dining-room 
floor plan were to be duplex type. 

The receptacle shown on the kitchen floor plan 
and the receptacle shown on basement floor plan 
were to be of standard combination type, including 
pilot lamp and push or rotary switch. 

Inspection: 

Estimates included the cost of whatever inspec¬ 
tion was required in contestant’s community and 
stated whether the work was regularly inspected 
by the fire underwriters, municipal authorities, 
central station, or whether two or more of these 
authorities inspected locally. 

Workmanship: 

Estimates were to be based on good quality of 
workmanship which would meet in all details what 
the contestant considered to be the requirements 
of good wiring practice as well as the local inspec¬ 
tion requirements. 


9 


Estimating Without Loss 


The Winning Turnock Estimate 

There are extant today several ways of estimat¬ 
ing wiring in frame dwellings, all of which have 
serious limitations and certain of which should be 
consigned to the waste basket. These methods, 
for the most part, possess the advantage—or shall 
we say the disadvantage?—of being quick means 
for determining the selling price, not the cost, of 
the job. 

The contractor, at the outset, rarely concerns 
himself with determining the cost of the job. His 
figures are generally based upon the costs of wir¬ 
ing similar jobs, but usually these costs are arith¬ 
metically averaged costs of dissimilar jobs and 
therefore, by this token, are incorrect. 

The two most popular methods of figuring knob- 
and-tube wiring in new frame dwellings are: 

(a) A price per completed outlet plus price for 
low tension work. 

(b) A price per outlet (rough in) plus an added 
price for “hardware” or wiring devices 
(finish) plus price for low tension work. 

The contractor hardly ever makes detailed esti¬ 
mates of all the materials and labor entering into 
a knob-and-tube dwelling job, because he is obliged 
oftentimes to figure the job without drawings and 
is forced to submit his proposal immediately upon 
request for same. This practice leads to inaccu¬ 
racies, to financial loss to him,—rather than the 
converse,—because it compels him to use rule-of- 
thumb procedures in determining his selling price. 

It would appear to the person who has not given 
the matter any thought that “detailed estimating” 
may be the correct method to use, but more ma¬ 
ture judgment would condemn detailed estimating 
for this class of work as “slow” or “too laborious,” 


10 


Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 


and therefore not universally acceptable as an esti¬ 
mating method in the average contractor’s office. 

Several years ago this contestant availed him- 


Miao. CiUTitu Koiio 1 


DATA SHEET 


EST. NO. 


ESTIMATED BY 


date J uly 19,1923 


buitpiNG Frame lAvel 1 inr 

_uk.* t ion_ Aaynhgre _ 


OWNER 


Anybody 


ADORESS / n y p-) aftft 


- A ^ HITECT -'To t-knovm- 

jNcmtER_Not k-nown 


ADDRESS 


ADDRESS 


^bips rece ivedby _ The Sdltor.of The Electrical Record. Kew Ynrtc flit.y. 

DATE AND TIME FOR BIOS July 21st. 1933. _ 


piANS-sETNo. ijpt numbered Q*teo June. 19?.3 


scale No scale 


sheetsnos. 349, 350, 351. 352. 

- -35T"t6 "352- 

DATE June 23 ** QE N0S - i CHANGED oh page 


SPECIF ICATIONS—NO 


ADDENDA 


BUILDING—NO OF FLOORS 2 flOOrS 

, , naapn] 


JSL 


AREA ONE FLOOR 1065 Sq . ft. FLOOR CONSTRUCTS f rame , W Q 0d6n JoiStS. 

OUTLINE OF SPECIFICATIONS 


CERTIFIED CHECK 

PACE 

NO 

| Page 

w,ft€ Code 

FIXTURES 

PAGE 

No , 

BOND 

wo 

outlet boxes Ceiling pans 


LAMPS 

No 

INSURANCE 

No 

FLOOR BOXES 

TTn 

METER LOOPS 

-Yes. 

WATCHMAN 

Np 

FIXTURE STUOS y es 


BELL SYSTEM 

-Yes- ■ 

TELEPHONE 

No 

SWITCHES p. p. PllJSb 


CLOCK SYSTEM 

No . 

PRO-RATA CHARGES 

!JoJ 

PLUG RECEPTACLES U0UD16 T ^bc 


WATCHMAN S SYSTEM 


CUTTING AND PATCHING 

NO 

uuiuex- inning R.' 

SPECIAL OUTLEJS 


PHONES. PUBLIC 


DRAWINGS 

No 

CABS. AND PANELS. LTG. 

m 

PHONES. INTER-COM. 


LICENSE 

No 

CABS. AND PANELS. PR. 


FIRE ALARM SYSTEM 


INSPECTION 

Yea 

CABS. ANO PANELS. SPECIAL 


TELAUTOGRAPH SYSTEM 


SERVICE— D C. 

351 

SWITCHBOARO 


NURSES' CALL 6Y8TEM 


location ba se:nent. 1 our 

irv 

fuses link 


SIGNAL SYSTEM 


OVERHEAD-UNDERGROUND 


BRANCH CTS. PER CONDUIT 


MESSENGER CALL SYSTEM 


LTG.. 2 W'«E 115 VOLTS 


EMPTY CONDUITS 


AUTO CALL SYSTEM 


PR. WIRE VOLTS 


MOtOR SWITCHES 




feeders-ltg. aor.e required 


MOTOR STARTERS 


NOTE link fuses are per- 


PR 


MOTOR INSTALLING 


inissible in Cleveland and 


BRANCHES—LTG. #14 


MOTOR CONNECTING 


it is comnon practise to 


PR. 


CEIL. ANO WALL RECEPTACLES 


install in this tyJjQ of 


conduit black lonly in 


OROP CORDS 

No 

residence, slate nolaritv 


laundry) 


* 


boards. 


A certain section of S 

pecifioations cannot be complied vAt.h in t;ip V Air>nd . 


h 3 . in violation of the Code;_ viz; 4 circuits ar« required In Cleveland 


for this house, instead of 3. 


self of the opportunity of analyzing the costs of 
installing knob-and-tube wiring in the average- 




11 










































































































Estimating Without Loss 


sized new frame dwelling constructed in the vicin¬ 
ity of Cleveland, Ohio, and was able to obtain 


,fr(iaA. Bitiottfl v*rpi I*. 


SCHEDULE 

Pram* l>^mafr --RIecffrlc<a Record Job, - 


<R.OOft 

Sir. ] 

Lasndp 


CIRCUIT eONOUIT AND WIRE 

OUTLETS 

SWITCHES 

lug 

ec. 

Plug 

Ree.d 
Pi In 

Total 

out 

7/att- 

are 






t-'-Rielo 


MKT. 

FLR. 

jj 

IP.B# 

W BP 


p 

r PB 

m np 

r 

7 





10 

1 




1 





1 

3 

110 

Kitche 

II 






1 




1 





1 

3 

uo 

Pantrs 







1 




1 







40 

R.Stal 

r hf 

.1 





l 










1 

Vj 

Bed Ro 

ora j 






1 



1 

1 






3 

160 

Liv.uo 

om 1 

aitle 






2 










•Q 

Pantry 







l 




l 






; 

40 

Total 

for 

Jirouit 

#1 



10 

6 

2 



5 





- 

, 3 

720 

Ciroul 

t r 


















Living 

















2 

r 

Dinlrw 

R. 






i 



1 



i* 




4 

\;0 

Bed R. 

#2 






i 



l 

i 






3 

un 

Dining 

R. 







2 











Total 

for 

liroull 

#2 




3 



2 

i 


2 


p 


// 


-Ciroui 

t? tf? 


















Bas'eme 

'it 






3 




i* 






4 


Dining 

R. 









1 







! 


3ed R 

f2 









1 







1 

- 

Lower 

fell 






1 






2 




3 



ile 






1 




i , 






o 


Porch 







J 







i 





Vr.ner 

Call 






1 










1 


Bath ; 

oom 






.1 



1 

i 








Total 

for 

!ircui 

#3 




0 







i 



- 


Circut 

t, K 


















Living 

R. 






1 




i 







i J 

Bod R 

#3 






1 



1 







3 


Bed R 

H 






1 



1 







z 


I.ivi ng 








<> 







i 


• 3 


Porch 







1 







i 





Total 

for 

iircuil 

' H 




4 

2 


, 

;5 



i 

i 


13 

? 

* rot 

soot 

;ed on | Diana 
















total 

:aJL 

2 IRC r ITS 




20 

6 


8 

L2 


4 

2 

• 3 

2 

•57 

25'r 






































V 


some remarkable and valuable data, all of which 
has been tabulated. Certain conclusions have been 
drawn from this information, from which it has 


12 





































































Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 

been comparatively easy to deduce an estimating 
formula which seems to have some of the elements 


UA-rraiAL Aim 1-1*™ imi.rrrz 


















thad'do 

itefaUk 

ea oklc 

ilatinc 

the mat 

etlals 




this 

Job. not by the 

method 

it "e^» 

in* of: 

the 4 

iantitl 

a, eeti 

natlng 

ihe lub 

»r, rec* 

r ltulat 

ng 

both, and then ; 

iHtinfc, 

- W1 

(' 










Ve may aest 

as the 

icourho 



pie tha 

a Job 

rill re 

iuire a 

quant it 

7 of ma 

a rial 

and labor, depei 

ding nc 

t only 

tpOB ' till 

Maker 

of out 

ets, £1 

["upon - 

he nur. 

jET-ST- 

arrsta 


but liavlng fewe 

obttlel 

l will 

feofje ■ 

dfattlt] 

" facte 

requli 

lag mor 

i meter 

a! iJid 

labor p 

r 

opening If the 

evidenoe -la- «iT 
with the esttrsa 

Otil 6J 

fll 

Ml 18 8 

11460. 

TDM ft 

St is (1 

the. dpc 

nortath 

Ud 07 

gmi 

1 at 

fsrrro 

6 f "BM 

Tm- 

■oceed. 






The total a 

aa of t 

11a lob 

is 1061 

x 3 - 


Lore fe« 

t. tfWT 

»r of 

lutlete, 

71. 



56.0: 

• Dens 1 

^ Fact 

Pa 








This dens It 

fadtb: 

In Ora 

>h requ 

rao fbi 

all ou 

leu e: 

oept 3- 

• ay and 

Double- 

Pole 


Switch cutl 

ts the 

roilowi 

« mate 

lals, 1 

ilch an 

pricec 

approx 

Lmately 

at the 

sa licet. 


27 Ft. #14 Co< 

e ffir^ 

jl a7.o 

: Ppr u 







.19 


7 5-1/2 Por 

elaln V 

no be an 

L leath, 

r head 

nails w 

W wa- 




.07 


S 3' 1 Porcel 

4b. tot* 

• a 1/2 

( 


^7- 





.03 


3 7t: 2/fl» P 

eritfl. 

non-me- 

Llllfl ft 



SA >A 




.06 


1 del1Inp P» 

- 4*' 









.11 


1 3/8* Fixt 

ire 3tm 









•05 


1 Fnonnmr no 

let bcc 









• 2( 


Z loam Cl«an 

lM*. 

%* . 








.04 


Tnoldantala. 

4 tace 

•older 

. foste 

dngs. ■ 

10 $ of 

matarli 

i 



•07 



l-l - - 








lYWlt - 

.ac 


/,naive U aho 

* that 

three-* 

iy and 

xjuble-j 

ole Jwl 

Ohae n 

bulre t 

se foil 

Twine 1 



50 Ft. S.B. 

fl.C. 17: 

re. Cod 

1. J a 

'.00 Del 

11. 





.36 


10 Knobs and 

Ilea the 1 

-headed 

nails 







.10 


8 Pubes 3 

’ x 5/lt 

« 










40 Ft. loom. 

Z/Q" 









■»09 


1 Uewworlc S 

itch ix 

* a 10 

( 







.10 


1 Economy b 

OQ 5UIT( 

rt 








.15 


4 Loom 01am 

a is zi 

es. 








.08 


Incidentals. 

- t*[«, 

solder 

1- etc-. 

10* of 

aaterla 





.09 











?0Tii. - 

1.00 






u3oa 

OlIHi 








eta . .' 





Flnlsl 

*-ire f 


?Imi 

Q 


Center Outlets 


.533 


.67 


3yitc! 

, i.:. 


.333 


.42 

—jnraurr 

Hftfl. OUfcl 

ta 

' ".TO 

.430 


• 03 

.66 


MUl 

, D.P. 


.500 


.C3 

_ 

3-',7ay Swltoh 0 

itlets 

,574 


.h 


Cctabit 

it ion 4 

7 

• 60C 


.75 

3.?. 3wltoh Ou 

lot 9 

lets 

.470 


.59 


-Bran 

xjlpTS? 

ee 



.45 














comprising an ideal system of estimating. These 
elements may be stated as follows: 

(a) Non-laborious and time-saving; 


13 




































































Estimating Without Loss 



(b) Universal (can be used on any knob-and- 
tube dwelling estimate); 

(c) Can be used in any locality; 



M13CEJ.LAHK1CS 

Bq»03*4 WBrtt, Laxidry, Service 

SCHEDULE Entpaao. UMI tch L* T.LV F.PT NO. 1 SHEET NO 4 






1/2" 

0ood. 

3" 

Boxea 

3*blanis 

oorer 

iF.S.l 
Cndlt 

p # 3 o; 
Cndlt' 

j&L 

1/0 om 
Claims 

l/Z" ’ 

LIS. 

ptoS/4 

ladnner 


- 

Bmesod nortt oa 












wdli la Laundry 




City Cc 

le a tip 

lc tea 1 

■tat no 

rrnnnrl 1 

of ah 

art lea 

H* .. 


tor Twitch and S< 

ablaut ii 

an_ 

of oonc 









-4 

And 9 t 

iteh 

10 


2 

' 1 

1 

3 

..4l 

. ..-^2 


384. 



MS' 

jrr-* 

3/4’ A 



3/4 

#10 

3/4" 






Service 

Cap 

ul*t 

Cover 

P^Qoru! 

Bujhin^ 

rahx 

Re C e 

'•71 re 

'iSr' 1 ' 




Service Sntraaoe 


1 

i 

1 

1 

2 

1 

40 

16 







; 

fattaca 

Pacsilat 

°MI 








ClgQUJ 

t» alth 

) spool 

'1 cat lot 

i uonte 

relate • 

nly th) 

ee. Th 

follto 

l«« 

w»tt»K* rtiTU.vrt icKt a 

'V OXCO! 

pted fr 

Para 

:raph 31 

» <>*. 

.120 - • 

17 of 1 

La 



"Kleot 


IttlPCJI 

of tfr« 


: Code. 

:itv of 

Clevel) 

[nd. 19! 

2." now 

In fore 

»• 


















"Apert* 

ante an 

1 Dwelli 

M Hous 

>»■ Con 

cr ajd 

Jl# Ou 

tlieM’V 







rhlrd f 

Loora - 

ittlo 


40 wntt 

•Q«fc 







B.-aflamon 





40 " 

n 







Porchea 





40 " 

n 






lath Ho 

bsK. 




40 " 

»» 







llosete 





40 " 

•• 







Pant r 1 a 





40 » 

m 







Toper hj 

All 




40 " 

•t 







7e8tlbruiea 




40 " 

n 






3 id* St 

tleta lfa all ot 

Iter roo 

PC 


40 " 

•* 






Canter 

outlets! In all 

bed roo 

tse 


50 * 

■* 





V 

Ctntar 

nutlets! in all 

Dther 1 

boma 


20 

•• 





3aee Bf 

aectaclha 




20 " 

» 






Drop Cc 

>rda 





40 •• 

n 



The cantor i 

diet 1 

i the r 

fr hall 

i 

hcnmst^lrs la 

rated t 

t 40 wa 

its and 

all 




Index reset 

tag lee 

ire rat 

d et 12 

a v»attal 










stion 3.i 

Gpt ir*r 

al and 

thercXQ] 

e not 1 

laoeeaar 

on th 

a Jobt 



- 





Coat of Inaneci 

Ion: 








Up to i 

aljEo] 

udlBK i) li/dit 

4vc outl 

bta 

2 

80 




- 





) light 


eta 

3 

lIQ 





Thle Jf 

a haa SI 

' llrtit! 

ay outl 

ata and 

thorofi 


ictlon 




L 

H 


■ 111 n 

cat to.: 










Jfh sen k* if 

ibiM 

n last; 

11lny t 

ouble a 

it of tl 

tree-wa; 

» on lo 

rer and 

upper 1 

tile:; 



l 

(Js.ii.TjjHKi.x_ 

raxefoi 

men to 

two all 

clo-rol 

> *wjtc 

lec on 

rlTinf I 

3on oei 

ter 


liAk and an 

extra linfl 9r& 

l£_SSU 

finer M 

ah on d 

k heated 

in! or n 

oai cent 

sr 1lch 

Clo 

eta ahe 

aid be 


illarl natud. 

ftl a t7 

2S_2lJt 

d noroej 

Lain an 

L riirid 

















(d) Is scientifically exact because the data has 
been derived from observation over a long 


14 














































































































Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 

period of time and taken from actual cost 
records in terms of man-hours for labor 


'nfriyain *0* j 

PRICING SHEET 

Collate Job - Pcroelul n - con duit w;rl<. 

mmorjQi ? rme Dwell Ire. Blue:rlcut Bi.-corl Job. sheet 6_esr no 1. 


E»T »Y R.C.T. PRICEO BY H.C.T. EXTENSIONS BY H . J . I.CHECKEO »V V . 1 • i~-p*TE J i.j y 



ITT 

■0 

MATERIAL 

QUANTITY 

MATERIAL 

UNIT 

trTENEiON 

L*#0» 

UNIT 

EXTENSION 

'TCR 

«o 


1 

iLirraiiL inn L/ana.nevailNG 1M 










. 














l 

f 


2 

Calling Cutlet* 

♦ 





iq 



flO 



. 



90 




57 





3 

40 

2 


1 

Br*rlr«t Qwtl.t* 






ft 




hft 





4 

flD 




63 





J 

Zi 

3 


4 

Slrel* Pol# 3wltch Cutlet* 






1 ? 




1£L 















7 

.. 

d 

4 


S 
















4 

no 




71 






5 


« 

Douhl* Pol# Switch Outlet* 















? 

oc 




76 





i 

5i 

4 


7 

Plug B*o*Dtaole.31nnle Outlet* 






£ 









6 

4C 




56 





< 

41 

7 


• 

Hue Heceotacle.Duplex Outlet* 






i 




{)C 





*> 

1 




r ■' 





j 

O' 

• 


t 

Combine:Ion Pilot Outlet* 






' 









1 





5ft 





j 

i; 

• 


10 

Extra for Conduit.3eo lleet 4 

1 b 

ii 













? t 










j 

i: 

10 


II 

Extra for lnnnmd mantle outlet 

















27 




_ 






v 

11 


12 

■tell-err*, rnurfi-ln 






_ 










5 




_ 





i 

7; 

12 


12 
















0 

'll 









Ik 

0 C 

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and quantities (not prices) for materials. 
The field data has been averaged by a 
method known as the “Principle of Least 


15 



































































































































Estimating Without Loss 

Squares,” and not by the usual arithmetical 
mean method. 


Sli&a. Efldmate Fora 0 


RECAPITULATION 


Fraine Swelling. Electrical Accord Job 

ESTIMATED BY H.C.T. CHECKED BY 


APPROVEO BY 


ESTIMATE NO. _ 1 _ 

SHEET NO-5_ 

OF_ A SHEETS 

date July 19,1923 


DATA 

SHEET 

NO. 

SYSTEM 

MATERIAL 

LABOR 

TOTAL 


CEILING OUTLET# 2C 

3 

Pou^hlngw-in 




40 

SO 


91 

29 



3 

Pini6h 


3 b# 


20 

00 


00 

24 


SWITCH “ 3.P- P.B. 12 













PLUG RECEPT. OUTLET Singl© Q 













"Plufa ' 

ml - - Duplex 3 













?Lwl • 













FLOOR 













FAN 








. 





Switch D.P. P.B. i 


Bid 3238.00 











Switch 3-Wav 4 













TOTAL OUTLETS 57 













CONNECTED CIRCUITS * 









■ 




OUTLET# PER CIRCUIT Averfi^A 1 1 








. ! 





no. of motors none 





■ 








TOTAL H. P. MOTORS -- 







































NON-PRODUCTIVE LABOR 













HANDLING MATERIAL 

1 

25 

NON-PRODUCTIVE LABOR 





3 

50 


3 

50 


LOST TIME 

TRAVELING TJME 

1 

1 

25 

OQ 

MISCELLANEOUS 



79 





1 

79 


TOTALS 


91 

78 


73 

04 


164 

82 


TOTAL 

3, 

50. 

JOB EXPENSE 


8 

2(? 


JOB EXPENSE 

- - JAfAL DIRECT COST 


173 

07 

BONO 



25 V. OVERHEAD 


43 

i>7 

PRO RATA CHARGES 





P.lfi 



insurance Liability (State Cornu.; 



10 < 2 . pfinrn 


21 

fifl 


1-1 /ZjLot-'Pl 

*y_ro' 

LI 

1 

10 

'SELLING PRICE 



97 

TELEPHONE 




NOTE: Overhead expense based upon actual cost of 

DRAWINGS 



jnaieri 

ala_and_laboxL. and.no t_ 
l&neoua • 2 i of materi 

’♦gross salea’*. 

iNBPtcnoN 2 9 3 9 L1(fht outlets 

-5 

10 

Lliacel 

dl cost. 

" LICENSE 




STORAGE 


— 



FREIGHT EXPRESS A NO CARTAGE 

3 tr 

rfl rp*fl 

pn 


75 

SHEET 

NO. 

MATERIAL 

MATERIAL COST | 

LABOR COST 


f A R. FARE ANO BERTH— r ^ 



30 


CONDUIT 

CONDUIT FITTING* 

WIRE 

WIRE FITTINGS 








* ROUND TR1P8 AT 

BOARD MEN WEEKS AT 



TOTAL 

£ 

25 


TOTALS 


% 







The ELECTRICAL RECORD contest affords 
this contestant an opportunity of presenting this 
method for judgment by the committee. The con¬ 


ic 























































































































Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 


test job has been estimated according to the prin¬ 
ciple of this method and in accordance with infor¬ 
mation which has been derived from field notes. 

Some of the estimating forms were furnished 
this contestant by Mr. A. L. Abbott of St. Paul, 
past chairman of the Cost Data Committee of the 
Association of Electragists International, and 
others are forms constructed for this contest. The 
described estimate should require ordinarily about 
ten minutes for the contractor to prepare. 


The Galvin Estimate 

Our estimate is based on the following condi¬ 
tions : 

1. Type of Construction: Armored cable. We 
choose this type of construction because at its 
best knob-and-tube is poor construction and con¬ 
duit is usually too expensive for frame construc¬ 
tion. 

2. Service Entrance: Central station connects 
to wire at weather head. Meter, meter trim, pro¬ 
tective devices, switch and connections to cut-out 
boxes furnished by central station. 

3. Inspection: Inspection only by Buffalo Fire 
Underwriters. 

4. Suggestions: 

(a) Drawings should be to scale and accurate. 
Many architects think we can guess dis¬ 
tance, but we cannot correctly. 

(b) Floor outlet added in dining-room for con¬ 
necting table appliances. 


17 



Estimating Without Loss 


(c) Range outlet in kitchen, and heavy service 
for same for present and future tenants. 



Calvin Eleoti 
Bufi 

rnf i&UrtL JirvM : 

•ic Equipment Comp 
■alo, N.Y. f 
3ENERAL ESTIMA 

any 

TE 


riMATC No / 

6 


SH, 

EBT H O^ltL 




Uptu,. ± 

‘V* 



< 

- -2*4. if. 


............... 







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(d) A switch and ceiling outlet added for each 
closet on second floor. 

(e) Number of circuits increased from six to 
eight. 


18 


































































Electrical Record Prize Estimates for Wiring 


5. Method of arriving at estimate—There is 
only one logical way of estimating a job and that 


Galvin Ele 

otric Equipment Company, 
Buffalo, M.Y. 

3ENERAL ESTIMATE ES1 

- SHE 

ESTIMATOR 

• CHECKER 

r» riATF 

/ A ® 

• MATE HO 1 ) 

BTBojX/ 7 ^ 

X "7/ 

ARCHITECTS_ 

SUBJECT._ /Wfc 

5* 

»# • >t 

ly-JJL'JSJ 

nr.swi^TioN or work 

PIECES 

DIMtNSIOHS 

EXTENSIONS 

EXTENSIONS 

TOTAL 

ESTIMATED 

OUANTITY 


TOTAL ESTIMATED 
MATERIAL COST 

k*ao« 

TOTAL ESTIMATED 
LABOR COST 

<* . 





Iwv 

x 


~) 



w? 


fCf/o 



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5 to 

r.uch 

7JG 


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Galvi 

i Electri 

c E< 

uipn 

ent Cc 

• 











3 

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Galvi 

in. 



























































is by taking off all materials from plans and pric¬ 
ing each item separately. Price the cost of labor 
for each item from past experience and costs. We 


19 































































































Estimating Without Loss 


do not believe that there is any royal road to esti¬ 
mating—any short-cuts will sooner or later lead 
to disaster. We guess enough even by the long- 
drawn-out item-by-item method. 


A NEW WAY TO ESTIMATE KNOB 
AND TUBE WIRING IN NEW 
FRAME HOUSES 

PART I 

By HARRY C. TURNOCK 


A N impression apparently is shared by knob- 
and-tube construction men that there is only 
one safe way to “figure” porcelain construction 
work and that is by the first of the three follow¬ 
ing methods: 

(1) Detailed estimating: scaling off materials 
and ascribing unit prices for each item of ma¬ 
terial; ascribing labor units or estimating the 
same by some other method or combination of 
methods and finally adding for overhead and profit 
either a percentage or a lump sum. 

(2) Price per outlet for roughing in plus price 
per outlet for finishing method. 

(3) Price per outlet complete method. 

Because of its accuracy there is much to be said 
in praise of the first method. The average con¬ 
tractor, however, endeavors to dispense with ex¬ 
pensive estimating. The type of men who usually 
estimate and sell this kind of wiring are not en¬ 
gineers and are incapable of laying out the work 
or circuiting the job in an economical way. I do 
not refer to the contractor himself, but to the 
salesmen who interview the architect, builder or 
owner. If they are above the average and possess 
sufficient knowledge to take-off the quantities by 


21 



Estimating Without Loss 


the detailed estimating method, they are usually 
handicapped by a lack of time and a set of com¬ 
prehensive drawings and specifications. The task 
of figuring the labor on the job is even more dif¬ 
ficult and requires much more time and ability. 

The question arises then: “Is it worth while? 
Does it pay to prepare a detailed estimate in view 
of the contract price received for the work ?” The 
answer is in the negative for small frame dwell¬ 
ings. For large dwellings having more than one 
hundred outlets, it is' the opinion of the writer 
that detailed estimating is a better method by 
which to “figure” the cost of a job, because special 
panel boards, service conditions, master switches, 
electrolier switches and other special treatment 
may be the rule rather than the exception. 

The estimates submitted for wiring the ELEC¬ 
TRICAL RECORD contest job averaged $189. A 
conservative estimate of the average cost of “fig¬ 
uring” on this job by the detailed estimating 
method would be in the neighborhood of $5 or $6 
or about 3 per cent to 4i/ 2 per cent of the total 
price. In the opinion of the writer, the expendi¬ 
ture of this amount for a job of such a size 
should not be approved. 

It therefore behooves contractors doing business 
in intensively competitive fields to adopt some 
other means of pricing their estimates. It may 
be justifiable to use the second method. 

The third method has little, if anything, in its 
favor and should be abandoned. It is the prime 
cause of vicious competition met with in the house¬ 
wiring business. Pernicious competition, for the 
most part, is an aftermath of the ignorance of 
costs. It is unbelievable that anyone in full pos¬ 
session of his faculties would take a job, such as 
a residence job, if he knew at the outset that he 


22 


A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 


would sustain a loss. It isn’t human nature to 
swap five dollar bills for a mess of plugged nickels. 
That, however, is what a large number of con¬ 
struction men are doing when they estimate wir¬ 
ing by this “per outlet” method. Men may argue 
that the “average” price for work of this kind will 
“let them out” if a sufficient “spread” or mark-up 
is added to prime cost. That may be partly right 
in communities where the effect of intelligent com¬ 
petition prevails. It is more fitting, however, to 
quote a price for a commodity or a service that 
is commensurate with its actual worth, and which 
will net a financial profit to the vendor as well as 
satisfaction to the purchaser. 

This discussion naturally leads up to the ques¬ 
tion : “What about it—what can be done to relieve 
the insufferable conditions which obtain in almost 
any city in the United States?” 

This observer, like many others, would rather 
side-step these questions, but instead of issuing 
a philosophical preachment in answer, will de¬ 
scribe an estimating method which seems to have 
the desirable characteristics of a method requir¬ 
ing a minimum of guesswork. This method owes 
its origin to a simple cost-finding system installed 
by the writer to replace a system that did not 
measure up to his requirements. 

To make a conservative statement, the installa¬ 
tion of this cost-finding system was a profitable 
investment that yielded more than the mere finan¬ 
cial return, viz.: Personal satisfaction derived 
from the possession of accurate data. This sys¬ 
tem was tied up with the general books of ac¬ 
count; that is, the cost sheet of each job was tied 
up with the general ledger. 

Casual examination of the cost sheets of several 
porcelain jobs disclosed the fact that certain of 

23 


Estimating Without Loss 


these knob-and-tube jobs were not yielding the 
anticipated profit. In fact, some of them called 
for a splatter or two of red ink. Continued inves¬ 
tigation showed that all of these jobs were esti¬ 
mated correctly; that is, were estimated in ac¬ 
cordance with a locally accepted system of unit 
prices per outlet for roughing-in plus a sum of 


o 


o 

£ 




if) 

C 

Q) 


Q 



15 30 35 40 45 50 


Feet of circuit wire per outlet 


Graph 1—How to Use the Density Factorgraph 

Find total floor area of building served by circuit wiring—-that is if all 
parts of attic, porches, basement, etc., are wired, add the sum of these 
areas to the main floor areas. Count the total number of outlets, such 
as ceiling, bracket, base receptable, etc. Divide the total area by the 
number of outlets to be installed, and this result is the Density Factor. 
To ascertain the quantity of circuit wire, use this factor and go into the 
graph at density factor value and at intersection of the density factor 
value with the curve, find the wire quantity to be used per outlet. 
Double this quantity for all 3-way, 4-way and double pole switches 
and for 660 watt or for circuits having less than three outlets per circuit. 


24 

















A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 

money for the finishing materials, such as 
switches, receptacles, drop cords and low-tension 
work. 

Further analysis disclosed the fact that the jobs 
showing unexpected losses had exceptionally large 
quantities of material per outlet installed. The 
labor also was exceptionally high. All of these 
unprofitable jobs were segregated and subjected 
to closer scrutiny. It is of interest to state now 
that all these unprofitable jobs were those in which 


Table A—Quantities of Material Required Per Outlet for 
Various Density Factors. 


Density 

Factor 

Feet of 
Circuit 
Wire 

Porcelain 

Knobs 

* 

Porcelain 

Tubes 

3'x5/16' 

2/8'Flexible 
Non-metallic 
Conduit 

5/16' 
Holes to 
Drill 


20 

16.0 

3.73 

5.6 

3.0 ft. 

7.6 

25 

17.8 

4.15 

6.23 


8.23 

30 

19.5 

4.54 

6.83 

3.0 

8.83 

35 

21.0 

4.89 

7.35 


9.35 

40 

22.5 

5.23 

7.88 

3.0 

9.88 

45 

23.9 

5.57 

8.37 


10.37 

50 

25.25 

5.88 

8.84 

3.0 

10.84 

55 

26.5 

6.17 

9.28 


11.28 

60 

28.25 

5.58 

9.89 

3.0 

11.89 

65 

29.0 

6.76 

10.15 


12.15 

70 

30.25 

7.04 

10.59 

3.0 

12.59 

75 

31.5 

7,34 

11.03 


13.03 

80 

32.75 

7 763 

11.46 

3.0 

13.46 

85 

33.9 

7.90 

11.87 


13.87 

90 

35.0 

8.16 

12.25 

3.0 

14.25 

95 

36.0 

8.39 

12.60 


14.60 

100 

37.0 

8.62 

12.95 

3.0 

14.95 

105 

37.9 

8.83 

13.27 


15.27 

110 

38.5 

8.97 

13.58 

3.0 

15.5$ 


*These may be split knobs or No. S l /z solid knobs with leather-headed 
nails as may be prescribed by local inspection regulations. 

fAfter calculating the density factor or the relation of the number of 
outlets to the wired area of the building, the quantity of wire required 
for any density factor may be ascertained from the Density Factorgraph 
(Page 24). 

The above table gives the quantity of wire, porcelain knobs and tubes 
and the loom required per outlet. The quantities for all 660-watt outlets, 
3-way switch outlets, 4-way switch outlets and special circuits having not 
more than two outlets; shall be twice that shown in the above table. 


25 















Estimating Without Loss 


a small number of outlets were installed in com¬ 
paratively large buildings. 

These observations led to a decision to investi¬ 
gate the whole subject of knob-and-tube costs and 
estimating methods. 

The observations of labor performance in man¬ 
hours and the quantities of each kind of material 
were taken from job cost sheets. These observa¬ 
tions were analyzed and tabulated. All Charge 
Sheets of materials which obviously appeared to 
be in error in quantity or type were eliminated 
for use as tabular data. These Charge Sheets 
were later investigated, and if found to be correct 
were placed in the table; if not, they were cor¬ 
rected and then placed in the table. 

Observations were taken of 209 new frame dwell¬ 
ings. The areas of each dwelling were tabulated 
under a heading entitled “Area.” The number of 
outlets was counted from “Work Order Schedule” 
returned to the office by the workmen when the 
job was roughed-in. This “Schedule” may have 
had either additions or deductions from the orig¬ 
inal estimate. The net number of outlets was 
tabulated against the area in question, and a “Den¬ 
sity Factor” calculated by slide rule. Headings 
on this analysis sheet were made for No. 14 Wire, 
2/8-in. Loom, No. 5 y 2 Porcelain Knobs, 8-in. Tubes, 
Switch and Receptacle Boxes, 6-in. (mud) Tubes, 
Extra Loom and Remarks. 

As stated before, it was comparatively easy to 
secure exact costs because each job was charged 
with its quota of material and labor and credited 
with all returned material. The cost sheets were 
tied up with the general books and therefore it 
became necessary to cost each sheet before the 
monthly trial balance could be had. 

The labor involved in the segregation and analy 1 - 


26 


A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 

sis of this information, and the conversion of it 
into usable data was compensated for time and 
again when it became necessary to revise current 
price schedules for estimating purposes. The Cost 
Sheets disclosed some remarkable information. 


Table B—Labor Required to “Rough-in” Outlets in New 
Frame Dwellings Knob and Tube Work. 


Density 

Factor 

Feet of Circuit 
Wire 

Time in Hours to Rough-in 

Ceiling 

Outlets 

Bracket 

Outlets 

Base Board 
Receptacles 

Single Pole 
Switches 

Double Pole j 

Switches j 

Wall Re¬ 

ceptacles 

Floor Re¬ 

ceptacles 

3-Way 

Switches 

20 

16.0 

.410 

.370 

.323 

.333 

.505 

.370 

1.410 

.460 

25 

17.8 

.428 

.390 

.344 

.354 

.522 

.390 

r.428 

.470 

30 

19.5 

.447 

.410 

.365 

.375 

.540 

.410 

1.447 

.490 

1 ^ 

35 

21.0 

.465 

.428 

.385 

.395 

.555 

.428 

1.465 

.508 

40 

22.5 

.482 

.447 

.405 

.415 

.570 

.447 

1.482 

.525 

45 

23.9 

.497 

.465 

.423 

.433 

.585 

.465 

1.497 

.542 

50 

25.25 

.514 

.480 

.442 

.452 

.600 

.480 

1.514 

.557 

55 

26.5 

.530 

.496 

.449 

.459 

.614 

.496 

1.530 

.573 

60 

28.25 

.545 

.513 

.475 

.489 

.627 

.513 

1.545 

.588 

65 

29.0 

.558 

.530 

.490 

.500 

.640 

.530 

1.538 

.600 

70 

30.25 

.573 

.546 

.507 

.517 

.650 

.546 

1 .573 

.614 

75 

31.5 

.588 

.563 

.521 

.531 

.660 

.563 

1.588 

.627 

80 

32.75 

.602 

.578 

.535 

.545 

.670 

.578 

1.602 

.639 

85 

33.9 

.615 

.593 

.550 

.560 

.678 

.593 

1.615 

.651 

90 

35.0 

.630 

.608 

.564 

.574 

.687 

.608 

1.630 

.663 

95 

36.0 

.644 

.623 

.578 

.588 

.693 

.623 

1.644 

.675 

100 

37.0 

.657 

.638 

.592 

.602 

.700 

.638 

1.657 

.685 

105 

37.9 

.672 

.653 

.607 

.617 

.705 

.653 

1.672 

.695 

110 

38.5 

.683 

.667 

.618 

.628 

.710 

.667 

1.683 

:705 

115 

39.3 

.695 

.682 

.633 

.643 

.715 

.682 

1.695 

.714 

120 

40.0 

.710 

.693 

.645 

.655 

-.720 

.693 

1.710 

.720 


The quantities of No. 14 Wire ranged from 20 ft. 
to 41 ft. per outlet, depending apparently upon 
a “Density Factor” or frequency of outlets. It 
was observed that as the quantity of wire per out¬ 
let increased, the labor cost increased. This fact 
led to the deduction of an estimating formula in 



















Estimating Without Loss 


which the elements of area and the number of 
outlets were given almost sole consideration. 
“Density Factor,” in its appli6ation to the wir- 


Table C—Material Cost for Various Density Factors; 
Roughing-in Wiring in New Dwellings; Knob and Tube 

Work. 


Density 

Factor 

Circuit Wire, 
Feet 

Wire and 
Porcelain 

Box, Hanger, 
Etc. 

Ceiling 

Outlet 

Side 

Outlet 

Base Board 

Recpt. Outlet 

Single Pole 

Switch'Outlet 

Double Pole 

Switch Outlet 

Wall Recpt. 

Outlet 

Floor Recpt. 

Outlet 

3-Way Switch 
Outlet 

20 

16.0 

$.19 

$.54 

$.73 

$.73 

$.73 

$.73 

$.91 

$.73 

$.73 

$.91 

25 

17.8 

.21 

.54 

.75 

.75 

.75 

.75 

.95 

.75 

.75 

.95 

30 

19:5 

.23 

.54 

.77 

.77 

.77 

.77 

.99 

.77 

.77 

.99 

35 

21.0 

.24 

.54 

.78 

.78 

.78 

.78 

1.04 

.78 

.78 

1.04 

40 

22.5 

.26 

.54 

.80 

.80 

.80 

.80 

1.06 

.80 

.80 

1.06 

45 

23.9 

.28 

.54 

.82 

.82 

.82 

.82 

1 .09 

.82 

.82 

1 .09 

50 

25.3 

.29 

.54 

.83 

.83 

.83 

.83 

l: 13 

.83 

.83 

1.13 

55 

26.5 

.31 

.54 

.85 

.85 

.85 

.85 

1.15 

.85 

.85 

1.15 

60 

28.3 

.33 

.54 

.87 

.87 

.87 

.87 

1.19 

.87 

.87 

1.19 

65 

29 »0 

.34 

.54 

.88 

.88 

.88 

.88 

1 .21 

.88 

.88 

1.21 

70 

30.3 

.35 

.54 

.89 

.89 

.89 

.89 

1.24 

.'89 

.89 

1.24 

75 

31.5 

.36 

.54 

.90 

.90 

.90 

.90 

1,27 

.90 

.90 

1.27 

80 

32.8 

.38 

.54 

.92 

.92 

.92 

.92 

1 .30 

.92 

.92 

1.30 

85 

33.9 

.39 

.54 

.93 

.93 

.93 

.93 

1.33 

.93 

.93 

1.33 

90 

35.0 

.31 

.54 

.95 

.95 

.95 

.95 

1.35 

.95 

.95 

1.35 

95 

36.0 

.42 

.54 

.96 

.96 

.96 

.96 

1 .37 

.96 

.96 

1.37 

100 

37.0 

.43 

.54 

.97 

.97 

.97 

.97 

1.40 

.97 

■ f 97 

1 .40 

105 

37.9 

.44 

.54 

.98 

.98 

.98 

.98 

1.42 

.98 

‘.98 

1.42 

110 

38.5 

.45 

.54 

.99 

.99 

.99 

.99 

1.43 

.99 

.99 

1.43 

115 

39.3 

.46 

.54 

1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

1.47 

1 .01 

1 .01 

1 .47 

120 

40.0 

.47 

.54 

1.01 

1.01 

1 .01 

1.01 

1 .47 

1.01 

1 .01 

1.47 

Average High-Low.. 

28.0 

.34 

.54 

.88 

.88 

.88 

.88 

1 .21 

.88 

.88 

1.21 


The following materials, priced approximately at the present market 
(March, 1924), are used in roughing-in the above outlets: 


Materials Quantities Cost Unit Total 

Wire .Changes with Density Factor *7.50 M 

Knobs.Changes with Density Factor .01 ea. 

Tubes .Changes with Density Factor .005 ea. 

Outlet box. 1 .15 .15 

Hanger . 1 .15 .15 

Loom—7/32 in.... 3ft. .02 .06 

Loom clamps. 2 .03 .06 

Fastenings . .02 .02 

Soldering materials, 

tapes, etc. .10 .10 


*These prices may be 20 per cent high or low and the cost units should 
be modified to correspond with the individual’s purchasing ability. 


2S 











































A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 


ing of a new frame dwelling, is the quotient ob¬ 
tained by dividing the sum of the area of all spaces 
in the building in which the wiring appears, by 
the total number of outlets. For example, a resi¬ 
dence having a combined area of 3600 square feet 
and which has installed 100 outlets of all kinds 
has a “Density Factor” of 36, since: 

3600 

-= 36 = Density Factor. 

100 

A building of one-half this size, with 50 outlets, 
would have the same density factor. 


1.25 

1.20 

1.15 

1.10 

a i.o5 

11.00 
to 

8 95 

I .90' 

Q) 

| .85 
.80 
.75 


QJ 






/ 

/ 

!- 








\ 

4 

/ 

A 

/ 








4 

/ 

/* 

*L-Cc 

3-' 

st of 
von a 

Mate 
id Dc 

*ial to 
uble- 

"rougl 

Pole 

i-in" 



• ) 

/ 

/ 

Sw 

'itch 

outlet 

s 





• / 

/ 

/ 









) 

/ 

1 









( 






-> 








.< 

—Ce 

r 

iling, 

Bract 

;et. 5. 

R 




a 

s 

f 

5v 

R f 

'itcfi 

icept< 

and o 
lde i 

II 

outlet 

s 













Density Factor 


graph 2—How “Density Factor” Affects Cost of Materials 

This graph is constructed to-show how “Density Factor” affects cost of 
material required to rough-in various outlets in New Frame Dwellings. 
This graph was constructed by plotting data in Table C. 

The data in Table “C” was not subjected to the smoothing out process 
of the Method of Least Squares, and hence the curve is irregular. 


29 























Estimating Without Loss 


The question whether the area or the cubic con¬ 
tents of the dwelling should be taken to derive a 
density factor was decided in favor of the former, 
because ceiling heights were of a uniform measure¬ 
ment, namely, 9 ft. to 9 y 2 feet., and therefore did 
not present conditions of sufficient importance to 
warrant performing calculations involving roots 
and exponents of the third power. Nevertheless, 
it would seem that the cubic contents function 
would be nearer right than the area function, 
since wiring is installed in three dimensions rather 
than two. 

To proceed: The tabular data was used to plot 
a graph on cross-section paper, but before this 
graph was plotted the events or observations were 
segregated into similar density factors, and these 
were averaged by a method known as the "‘Prin¬ 
ciple of Least Squares.” 

Another method by which a graph may be con¬ 
structed is the “Summation of Residuals” method. 
This method does not involve any higher mathe¬ 
matics, and anyone who is at all acquainted with 
logarithms may be well repaid in trying out the 
scheme. A very fine explanation of the subject 
may be had in “Engineering Mathematics,” by the 
late Charles P. Steinmetz. 

The graph is shown on Page 24 and the method 
recommended for its use is given in the explana¬ 
tory matter. 

The density factor determines the quantity of 
material per outlet and, as a consequence, the labor 
required for its installation. It is, therefore, neces¬ 
sary that a cost be ascribed for each density 
factor. 

This may be done readily by costing all the ma¬ 
terials for density factors 20, BO, 40, 50, 60, 70, 
80, 90 and 100, and then plotting these results on 


30 


A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 

rectangular cross-section paper. Any density fac¬ 
tor value between 20 and 120 may be taken from 
the curve. (See Graph 2.) 

If there are objections against the use of graphs 
tabular data may be used instead, but this would 
involve computing every value or else interpola¬ 
tion. 

It was observed that the porcelain requirement 
depended not only upon the quantity of wire, but 
upon the number of outlets installed and the num¬ 
ber of circuits required to make the installation. 

It was obvious, therefore, that an allowance had 
to be made for a number of knobs and tubes per 
circuit-foot of wire, and, in addition to this, a 
certain quantity of porcelain for each outlet and 
for each circuit. 

These facts are shown in Table A. 

The factorgraph demonstrates that the quantity 
of circuit wire per outlet necessary to wire a dwell¬ 
ing depends upon the number of outlets in a given 
area, or the relative density of these outlets. This 
density or frequency exerts its influence upon the 
quantity of porcelain, and, necessarily, upon the 
labor costs. 

It was evident at the outset that certain preva¬ 
lent estimating methods were subject to severe 
criticism. A system could be devised which would 
offer a commercially practical solution to the prob¬ 
lem. “Commercially practical” may be defined by 
saying that the system, in order to be satisfactory, 
should be both simple and accurate. 

It was apparent that a condition existed which 
called for radical changes in methods of estimat¬ 
ing. The “price-per-outlet-for-roughing-in-plus- 
price-per-outlet-for-finish” method was found to 
lack the necessary elements of a satisfactory es¬ 
timating system. 


31 


Estimating Without Loss 


While developing a system which may be of 
use in all localities, it becomes immediately ap¬ 
parent that the question of local inspection regu¬ 
lations and local standards of practice must be 
given consideration, to say nothing of the ques¬ 
tion of labor units. 

Nevertheless, for obvious reasons it is impos¬ 
sible to take into consideration all the variable 


Table D—Labor and Material Costs Roughing In Outlets 
in New Frame Dwellings; Knob and Tube Work. 


Material from Table C. Labor at $1.00 per hour; (See 
Table B) 


Density 

Factor 

Ceiling 

Outlet 

Bracket 

Outlet 

Base Recpt. 
Outlet 

Single Pole 
Switch 

Double Pole 
Switch 

Wall Re¬ 

ceptacle 

Floor Re¬ 

ceptacle 

3-Way 

Switches 

20 

$1.14 

$1.10 

$1.05 

$1.06 

$1.42 

$1.10 

$2.14 

$1.37 

25 

1.18 

1.14 

1.09 

1.10 

1.47 

1.14 

2.18 

1.42 

30 

1.22 

1.18 

1.14 

1,15 

1.53 

1.18 

2.22 

1 .48 

35 

1.25 

1.21 

1.17 

1.18 

1.60 

1.21 

2.25 

1.55 

40 

1.28 

1.25 

1.21 

1.22 

1.62 

1.25 

2.28 

1.59 

45 

1.32 

1.29 

1.24 

1.25 

1.68 

1.29 

2.32 

1.63 

50 

1.34 

1.31 

1.27 

1.28 

1.73 

1.31 

2.34 

1.69 

55 

1.38 

1.35 

1.30 

1.31 

1.76 

1.35 

2.38 

1.72 

60 

1.42 

1.38 

1.35 

1.36 

1.82 

1.38 

2.42 

1.78 

65 

1.44 

1.41 

1.37 

1.38 

1.85 

1.41 

2.44 

1.81 

70 

1.46 

1.44 

1.40 

1.41 

1.89 

1.44 

2.46 

1 .85 

75 

1.49 

1.46 

1.42 

1.43 

1.93 

1.46 

2.49 

1.90 

80 

1.52 

1.50 

1.46 

1.47 

1.97 

1.50 

2.52 

1.94 

85 

1.55 

1.52 

1,48 

1.49 

2.01 

1.52 

2.55 

1.98 

90 

1.58 

1.56 

1.53 

1.54 

2.04 

1.56 

2.58 

2.01 

95 

1.60 

1.58 

1.54 

1.55 

2.06 

1.58 

2.60 

2.05 

100 

1.62 

1.61 

1.56 

1.57 

2.10 

1.61 

2.63 

2.09 

105 

1.65 

1.63 

1.59 

1.60 

2.13 

1.63 

2.65 

2.12 

HO 

1 ;67 

1.66 

1.61 

T.62 

2.14 

1.66 

2.67 

2.14 

115 

1.70 

1.68 

1.63 

1.64 

2.18 

1.68 

2.70 

2.18 

120 

1.72 

1.70 

1.66 

1.67 

2.19 

1.70 

2.72 

2.19 

Average High-Low.. 

1.43 

1.40 

1.36 

1.37 

1.81 

1.40 

2.48 

1.78 


In this table, labor is based upon an hourly rate of $1, and material 
is priced as shown in Table C. 

The data in this table should be corrected so as to reflect each con¬ 
tractor’s experience, both as to labor and material costs. 

An approximately smooth graph may be constructed for each type of 
outlet and density factor by plotting these data on rectangular cross- 
section paper. 
















A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 


factors encountered by contractors throughout the 
country. Hence, all variable factors should be 
omitted in developing a simple method, and should 
be taken cognizance of only by those contractors 
who may be affected. The task involves the reso¬ 
lution of universally applicable principles into a 
basic formula, which, with slight modifications, 
may be adapted for use by any contractor operat¬ 
ing in any part of the country. 

The order of procedure advised in using this 
proposed knob-and-tube estimating formula is: 

(1) Ascertain what parts of the building will be 
wired and find the sum of areas involved. 

(2) Count the number of outlets to be installed. 

(3) Find the relative quantities of wire and 
porcelain by calculation of the Density Factor. 

(4) Ascribe the correct densitv factor roughing- 
in outlet cost, including both labor and material, 
to the total number of all types of outlets. 

(5) Ascertain the cost of labor and material 
for finishing material of all kinds. 

(6) Include the cost of cut-out cabinets, meter 
board, service entrance and switch. 

(7) Estimate the cost of low-tension work. 

(8) Add a job cost, which should include such 
items as inspection, liability, insurance, drayage, 
non-productive labor or any item other than ma¬ 
terial and labor. 

(9) Sum up all of the above-mentioned costs. 
The total is the prime cost of material and labor. 

(10) Apply a percentage to this prime cost to 
cover “overhead expense.” The result is the total 
cost. 

(11) Apply a percentage of the total cost or 
a percentage of the prime cost (whichever may 
be desirable) to make the selling price. 


33 


Estimating Without Loss 



Graph 3— Relation of Labor for Different Kinds of Outlets to 
Density Factor 

Curve No. 1—Base board convenience outlets. 

Curve No. 2—Bracket outlets. 

Curve No. 3—Ceiling outlets. 

' Curve No. 4—3-Way Switch outlets. 

Curve No. 5—Double pole switch outlets. 


It is apparent that the use of an estimating 
method of this kind requires an expenditure of 
much more time in the preparation of an estimate 
than the so-called “price-per-outlet-plus-price-for- 
low-tension-work” method, but it requires very 
little moral courage to state that the latter method 
and all short-cut methods patterned after it should 
be eliminated for all time, despite the fact that 
they may conserve time in the preparation of an 
estimate. 


34 

























A NEW WAY TO ESTIMATE KNOB 
AND TUBE WIRING IN NEW 
FRAME HOUSES 

PART II 

By HARRY C. TURNOCK 


I T has been pointed out many times that the 
prime causes for the pernicious competition ob¬ 
taining’ in the contracting branch of the electrical 
industry are: (a) ignorance of costs and the lack 
of a cost-finding system, and (b) defective esti¬ 
mating, resulting in erroneous selling prices. One 
may hold, without fear of contradiction, that these, 
together with the lack of a cost-control system, 
which should function in such a manner that ac¬ 
tual field costs may be made to correspond with 
estimate sheet costs, are the chief causes for loss 
in this business. 

If it is impossible to control field costs in such 
a way that estimate sheet costs may not be made 
to be comparable because of the difficulty attach¬ 
ing to the act of control, then we must modify 
our estimate cost units, or else go so far as- to 
change the estimating system so that we may, 
to the fullest extent possible, control field cost 
without difficulty to obtain the results desired. 

The weakness of any cost-control system lies in 
the fact that the contractor has no established 
labor cost which can be maintained for all the 
various items of material, as it is subject to a 
constant variation in accordance with the skill, 
the whims, and the honesty of the labor he em- 


35 



A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 


Table E: Finishing- Labor and Material Costs for New Frame 
Dwellings; Knob and Tube Work 

Material to be priced by users: Labor at $1.00 per hour. 

Material 
Labor Cost 

Device : Cost Each 


Adjusters, cord . 

Attachment plugs . 

Annunciators, per point. 

Batteries, dry . 

Bells . 

Bell transformer . 

Button, push. 

Buzzer . 

Current taps . 

Condulets . 

Drop cords . 

“Elexits,” complete . 

Fans, complete . 

Guards, lamp . 

Receptacles, base in base flush. 

Receptacles, in wall flush. 

Receptacles, ceiling flush . 

Receptacles, floor . 

Receptacles, sign . 

Receptacle, wall, surface. 

Rosettes, outlet box . 

Rosettes, surface . 

Switch, single pole, snap. 

Switch, double pole, snap. 

Switch, 3-way, snap . 

Switch, 4-way, snap . 

Switch, single pole, flush and plate. 
Switch, double pole, flush and plate 

Switch, 3-way, flush and plate. 

Switch, 4-way, flush and plate. 

Switch, canopy or fixture. 

Switch, ceiling and weather-proof. . 

Switch, electrolier, flush, 4 Pt. 

Switch, electrolier, snap, 4 Pt. 

Switch, automatic door, complete. ,. 

Socket brass shell . 

Socket (W. P.) “pigtail” type. 


$ .08 
.25 
, .50 

.75 
.42 

. 1.00 
.42 
.42 
, .25 

.33 
.75 
.42 
1.00 
.17 
.42 
.33 
.42 
.33 
.25 
.33 
.33 
.33 
.33 
.50 
.50 
.58 
.42 
.58 


.U/ 

.67 

.75 

.75 

.67 

1.00 

.25 

.33 


The user of these tables may convert the monetary values of $1.00 per 
hour shown in this table to the value of the rate of wage obtaining 

in his community. 


To illustrate his method of estimating knob and tube wiring for new 
frame houses by the “density factor,” Mr. Turnock has made use of 
the “Electrical Record House” plans and specifications which are shown 
on pages 5 to 9, inclusive. 

ploys, and to variable job conditions over which 
he can never hope to exercise full control. 

In order to provide means for exercising con- 


36 













































A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 


trol over production costs, it is necessary to re¬ 
vamp the old bookkeeping system and, in lieu 
thereof, let a modern accounting system hold 
forth. 

The modern accounting system must be of suf¬ 
ficient flexibility to permit obtaining three things 
from it: what has been done, what is doing, and 
what could be done. This suggests the thought 
that there is a great difference between bookkeep¬ 
ing and cost-keeping. 

Bookkeeping is a device of the merchandiser, a 
student of profits, who is interested in financial 
results. Cost-keeping was devised by the engineer 
who is primarily a student of causes. The en¬ 
gineer lays claim to the fact that “profit” is secon¬ 
dary to a knowledge of costs, and in getting the 
most for a dollar of expenditure, and is concerned 
not at all with recording debits and credits, except 
that such bookkeeping serves his purpose as a 
means of balancing out his other computations. 

The time-keeper on a construction job is in¬ 
terested only in obtaining the time that each man 
has worked—a bookkeeping function. The en¬ 
gineer is interested in what each man has done 
during that time, what is being done, and attempts 
to compute units which may be used by him when 
he estimates another job, or when he attempts to 
obtain a basis from which to forecast “what could 
be done.” . . 

This preamble serves the purpose of pointing 
out what may be expected by the electrical con¬ 
tractor if his books of account merely present 
figures of a bookkeeping nature, rather than fig¬ 
ures of a cost-accounting nature. 

Analysis of new house construction costs demon¬ 
strated the fact that a so-called “price-per-outlet” 
method used in estimating knob-and-tube work in 


37 


Estimating Without Loss 


cm. t*.ia ttt 
ton u * 


PRICING SHEET 


joe or blog. metrical Recor 4 -&efli<t«nca ... ration 

BID TO ___ _ ___ __ AQ ORESS 


■ •. i 

datc May Bt h« 


archt, or eng r 


ADDRESS 



material 

UNIT 


LA 80* 
<JN<T 


OOASTJTr 


8XTCN6KJN 


PLANS MARKED 


SCALE SO*. £r t0rS6 -i,T NO )>_ 

CHECKED bvB I B Arse no SlSG^^^n’et^No 5 ' 61 ' ^ 


-SSL 


B Y H.C.T. PRICED BY H.C.T. EXTENSIONS BY H 


Material 
And labcr. 


Hough! og - -lissl* 3».ii5fc_Oatis4*_ 


.. .Puplejc Plug Baoeptacle Cutlet 
Ooab lnatl on Pilot Outleta 
H onghlntt- I n Bell wor ic 
.?0t<a Cost Houchise-tn_ 


Sxtra .l/^LSnMniU-xlEid bias* 


Conduit 
■«oBc_ln. 
Baa smut- 


Serrioe 

Bntrancs 

wort! 


Sa.terl&l 


_ Ceiling jjBtieta 
Braohal Outlets _ 




3-Vi’sy Switch- Oatlfita 
0- P> 9»itoh Outlets. 


Ainelc Hug Seoaptsole ,Outlet 


.Salti 


Sox&a^mi MAdfc coy ore 

Mte.-.-... 

P 3 23 Condulet body... 

.^/4^ta..l/2^i^uaiag_t!)wMn£ 

l/S“ loc'ic nute and buahlngs 

Loom claiupa_ _ 

iatra l/4' loom - mapti e, et o. 
'fatal cost extra Conduit -orit 
_ 3/4 " Condu it, rigid black 
3/4*. G. V. Pip e Ca p 
3/4” malleable elbow 


_80. Mp- igugale 3qa are.3> 3wl toh 
federal bushings 
So . 10 K.C. 3. B. solid 

Owltohes. 3,p_, #2201 d rrant. .0 40 platej 
Cwltohcs, O.P. 12202 Bryant, *040. Plata 
-witches, 3-..ay 2203 ory&nt, .049 plate 

Combination #467. 3ryant .‘*or/clae__ 

.4_Sir- Polarity board in .31 eel Cabinet 
Base Heeeptaoles #120 Opart an and plat 
. j*e*4L.Reoeptaol*» #122 Cpartan and plat 
’ !4et«r (one meter 1 

2-l/S " ».E. Iroo 3ox Bell 
Sdward’s Contson lush Sutton (tietonic) 


Ho. 6 Columbia Dry Celia 
lotal Finish Material 




2 -lii J 

. 1: .Qfti .... 


wire 


)Sfi_ 




T 


v.. v 4 j. 

10 i 60 

. 2 36 
6 06 
3:00 


400 . 


.COO 


40 


36 8 


23 14 


Record All Items on: Pricing: Sheet 


The Pricing Sheet should include all items that affect the job. It should 
show both the roughing-in and the finishing materials, low tension work, 
and any other work called for by the specifications, or by the under¬ 
writers’ regulations. 

new frame dwellings did not serve the purpose of 
the engineer because the use of this method often- 




38 
















































































































































































A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 

times accounted for astonishingly large expendi¬ 
tures of material and labor. This could have been 
avoided by using an estimating method which 
would take into consideration the facts accounting 
for these unusual expenditures of material and 
labor. 

In this chapter it is proposed to demonstrate 
what may be done with the “density factor” 
method in estimating knob-and-tube work by mak¬ 
ing a re-survey of the “Electrical Record House.” 

The most important factor conducive to an ac¬ 
curate estimate is the correct interpretation of 
the plans and specifications shown on pages 6 to 
9, inclusive. 

The first sequence of events in the use of the 
density factor method of estimating provides for: 

(a) Ascertaining the area; 

(b) Counting the number of outlets to be in¬ 
stalled; and 

(c) Computing a density factor. 

Although no over-all dimensions are shown, one 
may compute the area of the “Electrical Record 


House” as follows: 

Area of Basement (estimated). . 1065 sq. ft. 
Area of First Floor (estimated), 

porch not included. 1065 sq. ft. 

Area of Second Floor (estimated), 

No. 2 and No. 4 closets not 
included. 1065 sq. ft. 


Total area. 3195 sq. ft. 


Areas may be computed without error by scal¬ 
ing blueprints. In this job, several dimensions 
would have to be approximated because the plans 
cannot be scaled. 


39 






Estimating Without Loss 


(b) Count the number of outlets to be installed 
in the building, including ceiling outlets, bracket 


Mum. ErtinwHe 6 


RECAPITULATION 


job. Frame Dwelling* Electrical Record Job 

ESTIMATED BY R-C.T. pMECHED BY H.fl.T# 


APPROVED BY H.I.H. 


ESTIMATE NO__ 

SHEET NO __ 

Or. ....£ SHEETS 

date May 8,1924 


DATA 


smew 

MATERIAL 

LABOR 

TOTAL 

CEILING OUTLETS 

20 

' Roughing-in 

60 25 

28 47 

78 72 

BRACKET 

6 

Finish 

35 86 

23 14 

59 00 

SWITCH 

18 

Extra Conduit Dork 

2 11 

3 36 

5 47 

plogrecept. outlet 

11 

Servloe Entrance 

4 85 

3 25 

8 10 


. ceil. . 

PCCORATtvE 
FLOO ft 
tAH 

Comb. Pilot 


TOTAL oun €T6 57 

CONNECTED CIRCLHT9 4 

OUTLETS Pfcft circuit, switches, 

etc. 14 

WO. OF MOTOftR 
TOTAL H. P, MOTORS 

JLrea 3198{ Density F» 56*0 

NON-f*ftOOUCT|Vfc LABOR 


Bid |227*00 

Average price per 
outlet with bell and 
push, 2 outlets and 
battery 1 outlet 
is $3.78 


HANDLING MATERIAL 

1 

25 

LOST TIME 

1 

25 

TRAVELING TIME 

1 

00 


TOTAL 


bond 


JOB EXPENSE 


rata CHARGE 

wsoRAwcfciiabili ty - Workmen's 
watc«m*w 1-1/2^ payroll 

TELEPHONE . , 

DRAWINGS 
INSPECTION 
L»QCM$e * 


STORAGE' 

fREICHT. LXPRL3S ANO CARTAGE 
R R FARC A WO BERTH-- 
ROUNO TRIPS AT 

0OARO MEN WEEKS AT 


3 trips 
Carfares 


TOTAL 


No«.pRooocTive labor 
MUSCEUAN tfcUK 

TOTAL 9 


1 10 

Overhead Expense is based upon prime coilt,.pf7jfbor and 
materials. In other words, overhead expensuror a fixed 
3*10 period Is 25# of the expended labor and material for 
the same period of time. 

Miscellaneous - 2# of material cost. 

MAUftiAt WATTRial COST LABOR COST 

CONDUIT • , 

COnOUIT FITTINGS ' - . ^ ' ■ 

WIRE 

WlRt NT TIROS 

totals 


3 75 
30 


SHEET 

NO. 


e 25 


1 86 
94 93 

JOB tXPf NSE 
TOIAI DIRECT COST 

25 'Vi OVERHEAD 
Total cost 

10 % PROFIT 

BELLING PRICE 


3 50 


61 72 


3 60 
1 86 

156 65 
8 25 


164 90 
41 23 


, 206 13 

.;aft ...xim 
,4 _ 226 74 



Totals on Recapitulation Sheet 

After all the materials have been carefully itemized on the Pricing Sheet, 
the total should be brought forward to the Recapitulation Sheet, which 
is ruled so as to obtain a cross check 1 against error. 


40 












A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 


outlets, switch outlets, convenience outlets, etc. 
This is found to be 57. 

(c) The density factor is computed by dividing 
the total area of the dwelling by the number of 
outlets to be installed. Therefore: 

3195 

Density Factor =-= 56.0 

57 

In Table “A,” shown on page 25, the significance 
of density factor is brought forcibly to mind when 
it is noted that if there had been 35 outlets instead 
of 57 to be installed, some 35 feet of circuit wire 
per outlet would have been required because 35 
outlets in an area of 3195 square feet would pro¬ 
duce a density factor of 91.3. A density factor 
of 56.0 calls for 27 feet of circuit wire per outlet. 

In taking off this job, it is suggested that the 
estimator provide a form which he might call a 
Schedule of Outlets. A sample of this form is 
shown on page 12. 

A summary of this sheet follows: 


Ceiling Outlets. 20 

Bracket Outlets . 6 

Convenience Outlets . 8 

S. P. Push Button Switches. 12 

3-Way Push Button Switches. 4 

D. P. Push Button Switches. 2 

Duplex Receptacles . 3 

Plug Receptacles and Pilot. 2 


Total Outlets. 57 


Now turn to Tables “B” and “C” on pages 27 
and 28. Table “B” gives labor required to rough- 
in the above outlets, and Table “C” gives material 
costs for various density factors. 

It is suggested that each contractor construct 


41 













Estimating Without Loss 


his own Table “C” to conform to his purchasing 
ability and to the kinds of material used in his 
locality. For instance, loom clamps and outlet 
boxes may not be required. This would cause a 
reduction of 21 cents per outlet. In other locali¬ 
ties, a patented hanger may be discarded in favor 
of a “center board,” reducing the cost still fur¬ 
ther. The present market price of No. 14 S. B. 
R. C. code wire may be considerably under $7.50 
per thousand feet, reducing the cost per outlet. 

Pricing Outlets Is Next Step 

The next step in estimating the cost of wiring 
the house is pricing the outlets taken off on the 
Schedule of Outlets form. 

It may serve the purpose of many contractors 
to use the “Schedule” form as a pricing sheet, 
but as there are several items which have not 
been recorded, let us introduce another form called 
the Pricing Sheet. 

This Pricing Sheet must show all units which 
affect the job. It must show both roughing-in 
and finishing materials, together with service en¬ 
trance materials, low tension work, and any other 
special work called for by the plans or specifica¬ 
tions, or by the underwriters’ regulations. 

The roughing-in materials itemized on the Pric¬ 
ing Sheet are priced from Table “C” or from Table 
“D,” April issue. The finishing materials are 
priced by using a Finishing Material Table “E” 
presented herewith. 

If it is desired to price the quantities for both 
material and labor simultaneously, Table “D” may 
be used for this purpose. The labor units are 
based upon a rate of $1 per hour. The rate used 
in the ELECTRICAL RECORD contest estimate 


42 


A New Way to Estimate Knob and Tube Wiring 

was $1.25 per hour and therefore this estimate 
will show a decrease in cost. 

There were several items called for which were 
placed upon the Pricing Sheet, such as service 
entrance material, meter board, cut-outs and cabi¬ 
net, and special conduit work in the laundry made 
necessary by work appearing on masonry. 

The work involved in the above varies greatly 
in different jobs, and therefore no rule can be laid 
down which will govern all cases. 

The low tension work in some residences repre¬ 
sents no small percentage of the total work. This 
work is of such a variable character as to require 
it to be included with the work specified above. 

Master switch control, electric range wiring, 
power work, feeder to detached garages or other 
separated buildings, are also of such a varied char¬ 
acter as to warrant taking off the quantities by 
the detailed estimating method. 

After the materials have been carefully itemized 
on the Pricing Sheet, the totals are brought for¬ 
ward to a Recapitulation Sheet. It is observed 
that this sheet is ruled in such a way as to insure 
a cross check, thereby eliminating the likelihood 
of an error. Job expense, non-productive labor, 
and miscellaneous items of expense are computed 
on this form and added to the material and labor 
costs. The sum of all these costs constitutes a 
prime cost to which must be added a percentage 
to cover the overhead expense chargeable to this 
particular job. A contractor’s overhead expense 
may be 20 per cent to 40 per cent, and he may 
elect to add only 10 per cent. That is his privi¬ 
lege. If he desires a profit in any amount, he is 
obliged to add that to the total cost of the job, 
which is prime cost plus overhead expense. 

The five or six tables used in connection with 


43 


Estimating Without Loss 


the density factor method of estimating knob- 
and-tube work may appear to be insurmountably 
formidable to many minds. It is suggested, there¬ 
fore, that a combination of C, D and E be con¬ 
structed by the individual to suit his own require¬ 
ments. 

An average price per outlet may be worked out 
in any community, so that a profit may be made 
on all work installed, but there are times when 
certain well-informed contractors will shade these 
average prices and will take all the profitable 
work; that is, the sixteen-feet-per outlet jobs, 
leaving the average-price men stranded. 

Would it not be much better to consider each 
job upon its merits and quote a price based upon 
the actual material and labor involved in the work 
by using some method such as this density factor 
method ? 

At best, the engineer is obliged to seek average 
conditions. The quantity of materials is not al¬ 
ways a function of cost due to the appearance of 
unforeseen expense. A unit cost may be correct 
for a large job, but too low for a smaller one, or 
vice versa. Well may the industry despair of ever 
reducing the art of cost estimating to an exact 
science. 

There appears to be a glimmer of hope in the 
reflection that each attempt to solve the riddle 
brings about new ideas. Although such new ideas 
do not at once become good practice, they may 
constitute the practice of the future. No doubt 
observations conducted by numerous investigators 
may result in a one-best system representing the 
consummation of their scientific studies. 


44 


HOW TO USE JOB FACTORS 

By J. GILSTON 

President Electrical Estimators’ Association of Greater New York 

I T is not too much to say that electrical estimat¬ 
ing would have attained a state of perfection 
if it were possible, first, to apply on every job 
the same labor units to the items of material; and 
then to be able to adjust the labor correctly for the 
particular building being estimated by employing 
an estimating or job factor, this job factor to vary 
in accordance with the conditions governing the 
installation costs on each job. It is, however, 
manifestly impossible for the estimator to deter¬ 
mine the job factor for the job as a whole, since 
this job factor must take into account all the con¬ 
ditions affecting the installation costs on the whole 
job. The difficulty is further increased by the 
necessity of gauging accurately the influence on 
the total labor of the varying proportions of the 
different materials required for different jobs. Al¬ 
though an occasional lightning calculator would 
find this method an ideal one, the numerous con¬ 
ditions to be considered for every job in order to 
determine the job factor for the job as a whole, 
rule this method out for the average estimator on 
all but the simplest kind of jobs. 

What is possible, however, and thoroughly prac¬ 
ticable as well, is to separate the items of material 
into groups, the items of which take the same units 
of labor for a given type of construction, and then 
to apply to each group its own particular job fac¬ 
tor, in order to adjust the labor accurately for the 
conditions obtaining for that group. For exam¬ 
ple, the branch circuit roughing could be treated 


45 



Estimating Without Loss 


as a separate group, and the in. conduit in¬ 
stalled on the arch, let us say, in any class of 
building, whether it be apartment house, office or 
loft building, would take the same units of labor; 
similarly with %-in. conduit. The job factor would 
then be determined for the branch circuit rough¬ 
ing for the particular job being estimated, this 
job factor varying for each job in accordance with 
the conditions encountered, and would then be ap¬ 
plied to the total branch circuit roughing labor. 
By grouping together those items of material 
which are installed under the same conditions on 
the job and therefore similarly affected by the 
difficulties encountered, the analysis necessary to 
determine the estimating factor for that group is 
simplified. 

This method insures accuracy by focusing the 
attention of the estimator on one group of ma¬ 
terials or one portion of the job at a time, thus 
enabling him to weigh all the conditions affecting 
the installation cost for that particular group. 
This use of the job factor has proven very suc¬ 
cessful, and it is in this sense, namely, referring 
to the application of the job factor to a single 
group of items as against its application to the 
job as a whole, That the term “job factor” will 
be used hereafter. 

In estimating by the job factor method, it is 
necessary to establish a set of base labor units 
for the various items of material entering into 
electrical construction work to be installed in the 
different types of buildings. The estimator ar¬ 
rives at the base cost of the job by applying these 
base labor units to the material used on the build¬ 
ing under consideration, and the final figure is 
reached by the application of the job factor to 
the base cost. The job factor corrects the final 


46 


How to Use Job Factors 


cost by making the proper adjustment for the par¬ 
ticular conditions under which the work is to be 
installed. 

The Manual of Estimating prepared by the cost 
data committee of the Association of Electragists 
contains base units or “Standard Times” for a 
large number of items entering into a conduit job. 
The manual holds that the only portion of a con¬ 
duit job that will be affected by the different con¬ 
ditions encountered on various jobs is the branch 
circuit roughing. It assumes that all finishing 
work, feeder conduits, panel boxes, etc., cost the 
same per unit on every job, provided the type of 
building construction is the same. The manual 
further states that the cost of installing the branch 
circuit roughing will vary for any given type of 
building construction in accordance with the fol¬ 
lowing conditions: Firstly, the area of the build¬ 
ing; secondly, the complexity of the installation; 
thirdly, the efficiency of the builder. The estima¬ 
tor assigns a percentage for every one of these 
three job conditions and the total of these per¬ 
centages becomes the job factor for the job. This 
job factor is then applied only to the branch cir¬ 
cuit work, and is the percentage increase of the 
base labor. For example, the job factor for a loft 
building 40 ft. x 100 ft. in area, having a simple 
lighting layout, and being built, let us assume, by 
a general contractor with a reputation for carry¬ 
ing on his work slowly and discontinuously, would 
according to the manual be determined as follows: 
(The figures are taken directly from the manual.) 


Percentage for Area. 19% 

Percentage for Complexity. 1% 

Percentage for Builder. 15% 


Job Factor. 35% 


47 







Estimating Without Loss 


In figuring this job the estimator would first ar¬ 
rive at the branch circuit roughing labor by 
applying the base labor units, and would then add 
the job factor found for this job of 35 per cent. 
The job factor method of estimating makes it 
possible for the estimator to analyze the condi¬ 
tions on the job logically and systematically. 
This information he notes in writing, thus giving 
it permanent form as part of the estimate records. 
This practice facilitates the checking of estimates 
and is valuable when referring to old estimates, 
embodying as it does a record of the derivation of 
the job factor which supplies a history of the job 
analysis. 

Estimating with the job factor makes the esti¬ 
mate more scientific because a factor or coefficient 
is a tool of science, and its use introduces the 
method of science. 

There are, however, certain limitations of the 
job factor that must be considered. A first ex¬ 
amination of the derivation of the job factor for 
the job illustrated above may give rise to the 
belief that the job factor for branch roughing 
based on the area of building, complexity of in¬ 
stallation and efficiency of builder is not all inclu¬ 
sive, inasmuch as several important job conditions 
have not been taken into account, such as delays 
caused by waiting for architects’ details, or infor¬ 
mation from engineers, or adverse weather con¬ 
ditions, or long discussions and conferences with 
the owners, or any other of the common causes of 
interference with the progress of a job. 

A distinction must be drawn between inherent 
job conditions and interferences of one kind or 
another that may occur to impede the progress of 
a job. The job conditions limiting and determin¬ 
ing the rate at which electrical work may be in- 


48 


How to Use Job Factors 

stalled, that is, those conditions which operate 
more or less continuously during the progress of 
the work, and not the occasional and irregular 
interferences, must form the basis for establish¬ 
ing the job factor. 

Certainly all causes delaying the progress of 
work should be allowed for in an estimate, but it 
is better to make the necessary provision for in¬ 
terference of an irregular character under an item 
for lost time, instead of attempting to employ the 
job factor for that purpose. 

A very definite and specific function should be 
assigned to the job factor. It should be used for 
the adjustment of base labor to the usual definite 
job conditions and not to cover indefinite and occa¬ 
sional interferences. In a word, the job factor 
should not be employed to cover the multitude of 
sins. Each definite job condition affecting the 
portion of the work for which a job factor is being 
determined should be given importance in propor¬ 
tion to its effect on the work and the total of these 
becomes the job factor. Any indefinite interfer¬ 
ences that cannot be classified or that are irregular 
can then be provided for under non-productive 
labor. 

Many electrical estimators are now using the job 
factor method of estimating. They find it a uni¬ 
form, orderly process of arriving at estimates of 
labor which should commend it for common adop¬ 
tion. If its use became general, the improvements 
and'additions introduced as a result of the collec¬ 
tive effort would inevitably result in the collection 
of a reliable and accurate body of estimating data. 



NEW STANDARD WIRING SYMBOLS 
FOR BUILDINGS 


S TANDARD symbols for wiring plans for the 
electrical equipment of buildings which have 
been in process of becoming an approved stand¬ 
ard of the American Engineering Standards Com¬ 
mittee since September, 1921, have now been 
completed and merely await the formality of a 
letter ballot before becoming an approved Amer¬ 
ican standard. 

The first standard wiring symbols were compiled 
by the National Electrical Contractors Association 
in 1906 under the chairmanship of G. M. Sanborn. 
This standard was used as a basis for preparing 
the new standard and was closely adhered to 
throughout. There have been a great many sym¬ 
bols added, however. 

Approximately 3,000 symbols of various types 
were submitted to the committee, of which C. Kai¬ 
ser, of Kaiser, Muller & Davies, was chairman, and 
Farquson Johnson, representing the Association of 
Electragists, was secretary. 

The symbols do not embrace apparatus attached 
to the outlets, such as lighting fixtures, except 
such as are a part of the permanent installation. 
The new standard symbols follow: 


Ceiling Outlet. 

Ceiling Outlet (Gas and Electric). 

Ceiling Lamp Receptacle—Specification to Describe Type Such 
as Key, Keyless or Pull Chain. 


4 - 

® 


Ceiling Outlet for Extensions. 
Ceiling Fan Outlet. 


* 

CO 


Pull Switch 
Drop Cord 




51 











Estimating Without Loss 


Wall Bracket. 

Wall Bracket (Gas and Electric). 

Wall Outlet for Extensions. 

Wall Fan Outlet. ....... . 

Wall Lamp Receptacle—Specification to Describe Type Such as 
Key, Keyless or Pull Chain. 

Single Convenience Outlet . 

Double Convenience Outlet . 

Junction Box ... 

Special Purpose Outlet—Lighting, Heating and Power as De¬ 
scribed in Specification. 

Special Purpose Outlet—Lighting, Heating and Power as De¬ 
scribed in Specification.... 

Special Purpose Outlet—Lighting, Heating and Power as De¬ 
scribed in Specification. 

Exit Light . 

Floor Outlet. 

Floor Elbow .. 

Floor Tee . 

Local Switch—Single Pole. 

Local Switch—Double Pole . 

Local Switch—3 Way . 

Local Switch—4 Way .. 

Automatic Door Switch. 

Key Push Button Switch... 

Electrolier Switch . 

Push Button Switch and Pilot. 

Remote Control Push Button Switch. 

Tank Switch. . 

Motor .*..... 

Motor Controller. 

Lighting Panel . 

Power Panel.. 

Heating Panel . 

Pull Box ... 

Cable Supporting Box.. 


52 


SI B 11 0 ® ! ^ ^ °l °i °2. Q ^ ® ® ® © 



































New Standard Wiring Symbols for Buildings 


Meter . 

Transformer .. 

Branch Circuit, Run Concealed Under Floor Above 

Branch Circuit, Run Exposed. 

Branch Circuit, Run Concealed Under Floor. 

Feeder Run Concealed Under Floor Above. 

Feeder Run Exposed .. 

Feeder Run Concealed Under Floor. 

Pole Line .. 

Push Button .• •. 

Buzzer . 

Bell .... 

Annunciator . 

Interior Telephone .• •. 

Public Telephone . 

Clock (Secondary) ... 

Clock (Master) . 

Time Stamp .... 

Electric Door Opener . 

Local Fire Alarm Gong.. •.... 

City Fire Alarm Station. 

Local Fire Alarm Station. 

Fire Alarm Central Station. 

Speaking Tube --•.• •. 

Nurse’s Signal Plug . 

Maid’s Plug . 

Horn Outlet ... 

District Messenger Call.• •. 

Watchman Station . 

Watchman Central Station Detector .... 

Public Telephone—P. B. X. Switchboard. 

Interior Telephone Central Switchboard. 



a 

o 

a 

O- 

H 

© 


<2 

a 

a 

S3 

0 

<e- 



53 


































Estimating Without Loss 


Interconnection Cabinet .••. f 1 

Telephone Cabinet ..'. fxdl 

* 

Telegraph Cabinet. 

Special Outlet for Signal System as Described in Specification... ^ 


Battery . I'M# 

• ’to**' 

Signal Wires in Conduit Concealed Under Floor. -—— 

y 

Signal Wires in Conduit Concealed Under Floor Above. —— 

This Character Marked on Tap Circuits Indicates 

2 No. 14 Conductors in 54-in. Conduit (see note). II 

3 No. 14 Conductors in 5 ' 2 -in. Conduit . | || 

4 No. 14 Conductors in 24-in. Conduit Unless Marked 24-in.... II II 

5 No. 14 Conductors in 24*in. Conduit. I II II 

6 No. 14 Conductors in 1-in. Conduit Unless Marked 24*in. II II II 

7 No. 14 Conductors in 1-in. Conduit ... I II II II 

8 No. 14 Conductors in 1-in. Conduit .INI II II 


Note—If larger conductors than Number 14 are used, use the 
same symbols and mark the conductor and conduit size on the run. 


’» I 

















WHY LOGICAL AND ACCURATE 
ESTIMATING IS NECESSARY 


By CAMPBELL HIGGINS 

Past President Electrical Estimators Assn, of Greater New York 


E LECTRICAL contractors frequently wonder 
at the wide variations between bids submit¬ 
ted on the same installation. Nor is this state of 
mind confined to the electrical contractors but it 
is often experienced by the general contractor, 
architect, engineer or owner, any one of whom 
may encounter a very real difficulty in determin¬ 
ing the true value of the work under consideration. 
In fact, a study of the bids submitted by electrical 
contractors on various kinds of work will show 
that a large number of them are apparently based 
on a guessing or gambling method rather than 
upon anything approaching a logical or business¬ 
like basis. When bids range from fifteen hundred 
dollars to thirty-two hundred dollars on a com¬ 
paratively simple piece of work and from $240,- 
000 to $350,000 on a large and excellently laid-out 
job, there seems to be something more than sell¬ 
ing policy involved. These are actual, not hypo¬ 
thetical, conditions. Furthermore, they are by no 
means isolated examples of the differences recur¬ 
ring regularly on electrical work. 

The attempt is made frequently to explain such 
variations by saying that the low bidder is “hungry 


55 



Estimating Without Loss 


for work,” “must keep his organization together,” 
or “bids below the cost of the job.” While any 
or all of these considerations may, and often do, 
affect the bid price to a marked degree, it is very 
doubtful if the variations mentioned, which are 
fairly typical, are actually due to questions of 
policy. In fact, a comparison of the net field costs 
—labor and material—on which several widely 
separated bids were based reveals that these costs 
are relatively almost as far apart as the bids. It 
can readily be seen where a 20 per cent variation 
exists between the cost prices prepared by several 
contractors, that should one of those having a 
low-cost figure decide to discount it for any reason 
the result is apt to be the acceptance of a contract 
which, in all probability, will prove a net loss in 
so far as the original volume of work is concerned 
and one which may easily be disastrous. 

Injures Others 

Not only does the contractor who takes the work 
at an ultimate loss injure himself but all his com¬ 
petitors as well, not to mention the industry as 
a whole, for it is certain that the manufacturers 
will not get much profit out of their share of this 
class of business. Particularly will those lines 
which are the least well organized feel the effects 
of close-buying practices. 

The relationship between the net cost of an 
installation and the bid price is a matter entirely 
outside the province of estimating, but the varia¬ 
tion of the net costs as estimated by a group of 
logically competitive bidders is certainly a subject 
worthy of the closest study, and it is with this 


56 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 


phase of the situation that we are at present 
interested. The Electrical Estimators Associa¬ 
tion of Greater New York, now in its fourth year, 
was organized as a means of promoting better 
estimating, first by providing an opportunity for 
frequent meetings at which closer friendships 
might be formed and where the members might 
exchange personal experiences for the benefit of 
all, and secondly, to obtain more uniform results 
by adopting the better methods now in use as well 
as to study practical ways of figuring labor costs 
by ascertaining the correct labor costs for various 
commonly experienced classes of work from rec¬ 
ords kept on actual jobs. 

In endeavoring to learn the facts, we have 
frequently brought in and discussed actual esti¬ 
mates on the same job prepared in competition 
from which we have observed two serious causes 
of variations between net costs. First, there were 
marked differences in the amount of each class of 
material estimated, sometimes to an extent that 
would lead one to suppose that the estimators had 
taken off different jobs. Secondly, decidedly dif¬ 
ferent methods of figuring labor were employed, 
frequently resulting in marked variations between 
totals. 


Indefinite Layouts 

When a marked difference occurs between 
amounts and kinds of material figured there seem 
to be several well-defined causes which are appar¬ 
ently outside the real province of estimating. For 
instance, we all know that there are many degrees 
of completeness and definiteness between plans 


57 


Estimating Without Loss 


drawn by different firms or individuals, from the 
carefully laid-out plan showing exactly what is 
wanted and what will be required for lighting, 
power, telephones, bell systems, etc., to the archi¬ 
tectural plans on which are shown the outlets 
often without the wattage indicated and often 
without the slightest clue as to the feeder require¬ 
ments and nothing shown for power, telephones, 
bells, etc. As might be expected, when the plans 
fail to give the proper information, the specifica¬ 
tions are, as a rule, equally vague to the extent 
that in extreme cases the estimators are at a loss 
to find anything in the specifications which would 
indicate that they were written to cover the job 
in question. 

It might at first appear that this is a subject 
beyond the field of estimating, but a moment's 
consideration will reveal the fact that the esti¬ 
mate must, of necessity, be based on the layout. 
Any contractor who figures the so-called competi¬ 
tive work knows that where the conditions briefly 
sketched above exist there is absolutely no com¬ 
petition in the true meaning of the word. A 
lump-sum contract implies an agreement to per¬ 
form a piece of work the extent of which can be 
accurately determined. How, then, can several 
contractors compete on anything like a fair basis 
when the amount of work under consideration is 
not definitely set forth? 

If this point were more clearly seen by those 
asking for bids and letting electrical contracts 
there is no doubt that more detailed information 
would be incorporated in plans and specifications. 


58 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 


Let us consider for a moment what might fairly 
be called a typical case: A set of architectural 
plans has been prepared for a club, hospital, school 
or other institutional building located in the 
suburbs. On the plans are indicated the various 
kinds of outlets required, and in the case of the 
ceiling and bracket outlets the numerals 1, 2, 3, 
etc., are used to indicate the number of lamps 
required at the various locations but the wattage 
is not mentioned. No feeders of any kind are 
shown, no panel locations or the number of panel 
circuits given. The switchboard location and point 
of service entrance are not shown. No telephone 
system, fire alarm system nor bell work is indi¬ 
cated on the plans, and if the layout has been 
made upon a set of mechanical plans the class of 
construction is not indicated. 

Turning to the specifications, we find that there 
is a vast amount of detail covering the exact 
material to be used for each class of outlet. There 
are several pages covering the electrical and 
chemical tests to be applied to the insulation of 
the wire and there are four pages covering the 
method of constructing the switchboard and panels 
but nothing to indicate their size or the functions 
to be performed by them. 

There is a clause stating that the lighting com¬ 
pany will bring its service within the building 
and that the contractor must co-operate to provide 
a complete installation, though the type of the 
service, whether two, three or four wire and 
whether separate for light and power is not men¬ 
tioned. The size of the elevator motor is not 
given. Entrance pushes are to be furnished at 


59 


Estimating Without Loss 


certain doors and the location of the bell is given. 
The fire alarm system must meet the approval of 
all legal authorities having jurisdiction. The bids 
are requested in four days’ time. 

This is by no means an isolated example of the 
practical problem of estimating and bidding on 
work in the electrical industry; a brief study of 
the situation will show that with minor variations 
a vast though no doubt decreasing number of 
contracts are let with no more definite information 
than outlined. 

Obviously we have here a fundamental cause 
of wide variations between cost figures. There 
being no prepared layout, each contractor must 
produce his own as a basis of figuring, and whether 
the estimator works carefully or hurriedly will 
probably depend on several factors, but in no case 
will the result necessarily be correct as there are 
too many assumptions to be made, each of which 
will have a cumulative effect on the final result. 

A clause in the specification stating that the 
entire work must meet the requirements of the 
National Board of Fire Underwriters is practically 
always included, in spite of which violations are 
at times specified. However, this requirement 
would exist in any event in so far as all light and 
power work is concerned. In a certain sense the 
provisions contained in the Code constitute a kind 
of blanket specification for all electrical work and 
for that reason, all-important as the Code is, it 
must necessarily cover a minimum rather than a 
maximum requirement. 

Another point to be considered in this connec¬ 
tion is that the provisions of the Code at any 


60 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 


given time tend to lag rather than to lead the 
engineering practices at that time. An instance 
of what is meant may be illustrated by reference 
to the 660-watt rule, which is designed to prevent 
the overloading of electrical circuits. A vast 
amount of electrical work has been installed on 
the basis of 660 watts per circuit, but owing to 
the gradual increase in the amount of light de¬ 
manded and the consequent increase in the size 
of lighting units it has been found that the exist¬ 
ing requirement is no longer as satisfactory as 
formerly, and this matter is now up for considera¬ 
tion and probable revision. 

The principal difficulty with the present rule is 
the fact that there is no close relationship between 
the wattage of the outlet shown on the plans and 
the capacity of the fixture installed at some future 
time. This very difficulty is one of the most 
serious for the estimator to overcome for the 
reason that when figuring on an indefinite set 
of drawings he may assume a wattage per outlet 
anywhere between the minimum allowable and 
whatever in his judgment would be adequate for 
the future demand and must take off his quanti¬ 
ties accordingly. 

Under these circumstances the estimator when 
figuring in competition will tend to produce a 
layout which covers only the minimum require¬ 
ments and the logical or probable requirements 
of the owner will not be given the proper con¬ 
sideration. Even when the intention is to figure 
the minimum amount there still remains a num¬ 
ber of legitimate causes for important variations 


61 


Estimating Without Loss 


such as the load factor to be assumed on the 
feeders and the number of spare circuits on the 
panel boards. 

We, therefore, might have a number of con¬ 
tractors each submitting a bid on his own layout 
of the work in question, but unless two or more 
bidders have happened to hit upon the same 
assumptions and have treated them in the same 
way throughout, there is no real competition—if 
we mean by that a test of the ability to carry out 
a given piece of work satisfactorily and for the 
lowest price. What does exist is a test of the 
engineering ability of the various estimators with 
the almost inevitable result that the one making 
the cheapest layout will secure the contract. 

When these conditions exist the contract 
awarded “in accordance with plans and specifica¬ 
tions,” contains much that is indefinite, and in 
the event of a dispute arising during its life the 
contractor frequently says, “I did not include 
that,” and if the work is neither indicated nor 
specified at the time of letting the contract his 
position is a strong one. 

While in almost all lines of business it is the 
purchaser who determines the quantity and 
quality of the goods purchased, in the case of 
electrical contracting it is the seller rather than 
the buyer who establishes, within certain wide 
limits, the quantity and quality of the installation 
delivered or erected. 

Just what proportion of the electrical work 
throughout the country is let on a purely price 
basis may be a matter of opinion, but most of us 
whose business it is to negotiate work will agree 


62 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 


that price is the ruling consideration in a great 
majority of cases. Not that the very lowest 
bidder always gets the job, but one of the two or 
three lowest bidders will, as a rule, obtain the 
contract quite irrespective of whether the desired 
amount of work can be done for the price estab¬ 
lished. In the last analysis, then, what actually 
happens is that the buyer—the owner or general 
contractor—establishes a fixed sum for a piece of 
work which is inherently difficult of accurate 
measurement and the volume of which is far more 
clearly understood by the seller than by the buyer 
who relies on the above type of contract docu¬ 
ments. 

What the electrical contractor does is to under¬ 
take to deliver something which will allow him 
some profit out of the sum so established. That 
this is a decidedly unhealthy condition of affairs 
would seem to be self-evident. 

The foregoing discussion may help to explain 
some of the many causes of variations between 
the amounts of material estimated for a given job 
by several contractors, and it may, also, tend to 
show that when ten or twelve bidders submit 
propositions based on their own layouts on one 
installation, competition really exists only between 
a very small part of that number. 

Labor Cost Errors 

The second source of variations between field 
costs on the same installation is found, as a rule, 
in the labor estimate. This source of variation 
no doubt causes less extreme differences on a 
particular job than may be caused by those expe- 


63 


Estimating Without Loss 


rienced in the quantities. However, the question 
of labor estimates is probably more important for 
the reason that large differences between labor 
figures frequently exist even wnen the plans and 
specifications are perfectly clear and the volume 
of work to be installed can be accurately deter¬ 
mined. In other words, while on a particular job 
the error traceable to the labor estimate no doubt, 
will be less than that caused by a faulty material 
survey, nevertheless, since the former is poten¬ 
tially present in all estimates and actually occurs 
in a great majority of estimates, the subject 
should be even more carefully studied. 

It is a fact that the total amount of labor 
allowed for a particular installation by several 
logically competitive and experienced firms will 
vary as much or even more than 40 per cent in 
extreme cases. Moreover, the same variation, or 
even a greater one, is frequently observed between 
the estimated labor and the amount actually ex¬ 
pended by the successful bidder. It is generally 
conceded by many contractors that their labor 
allowance will seldom prove correct within a 
reasonable percentage, and this condition of affairs 
is, no doubt, parent to the thought in the minds of 
many that the labor estimate is necessarily a 
gambling proposition and consequently hardly 
worth serious study/ 

While it is no doubt true that the labor for an 
electrical installation is inherently subject to 
variations caused by conditions over which the 
electrical contractor has no control, it is not always 
true that these conditions could not have been 


64 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 

forecast with a fair degree of accuracy provided 
all the factors bearing on the situation have been 
duly considered. It is generally admitted that we 
do not base our labor figures on definite facts but 
on opinions which are frequently derived from 
anything but an accurate idea of how much each 
particular branch of the work costs. 

A study of two competitively compared esti¬ 
mates for the same piece of work and four sepa¬ 
rately prepared non-competitive estimates when 
set opposite the actual costs has revealed a sur¬ 
prising and illuminating set of facts. Such a 
study was made last winter by the Electrical 
Estimators' Association and the results published 
by J. Gilston in the National Electragist for April, 
1922. For the benefit of those who no longer 
have available this copy of the paper, it may be 
well to explain the procedure which was followed 
in making these comparisons. 

In the first place, an accurate labor cost record 
was kept on the job in accordance with the 
method now used in New York whereby the 
amount of money expended on each important 
item of work is determined day by day as the work 
progresses, and at the close of the job definite 
unit labor costs are worked out from the amount 
of material of each class actually installed—the 
whole being arranged approximately in the form 
usually followed when preparing an estimate. 

Next, two estimates prepared in competition by 
two independent firms were submitted and ar¬ 
ranged in parallel columns for a ready comparison 
beside the actual figures. In each case the amount 


65 


Estimating Without Loss 


of material was figured for each item, the labor 
unit and the total labor as well as sub-totals and 
grand totals were then easily compared. 

Finally, in view of the fact that we were able 
to obtain only two actual estimates, and wishing 
to make further studies, four independently pre¬ 
pared estimates, each based on the actual quanti¬ 
ties used on the job, were also arranged in parallel 
columns as before, and for each item the percen¬ 
tage of variation between the estimated total and 
the actual total was recorded. Since each estimate 
was based on the same quantities and each esti¬ 
mator had access to exactly the same information 
about working conditions, the differences observed 
between the various items as estimated and as 
actually recorded were due solely to the use of 
different labor unit costs for precisely the same 
work. 


Wide Variations 

It was found that the total labor estimated for 
the branch circuit work by four individuals aver¬ 
aged 20 per cent higher than was actually required, 
all four men being consistently high in spite of 
the fact that each man based his figures on the 
same knowledge of working conditions. Likewise 
the total labor estimated for one-inch conduit in¬ 
stalled on the floors averaged 65.5 per cent higher 
than was actually experienced, each estimator 
making approximately the same error. The esti¬ 
mated labor costs on B-inch conduit installed under 
unusually difficult conditions averaged 45 per cent 
below the actual cost while on about the same 
amount of 3V2-inch conduit installed under easy 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 


conditions the estimates averaged 67.5 per cent 
too high, the maximum variations being 103 per 
cent higher than the actual. The result was that 
the average labor allowed for the pipe work was 
more than 18 per cent high. 

On the other hand, in the case of pulling the 
branch circuit wire, the average was 30 per cent 
too low, the maximum variation being —52 per 
cent. The average labor for pulling wire of all 
kinds was 19 per cent below the actual cost. The 
finishing work, however, including such items as 
setting panelboards and switchboards and hang¬ 
ing fixtures, etc., was estimated both above and 
below the actual cost, with the result that the 
total labor figured for the job was in each case 
extremely close to the amount actually expended, 
the maximum variations being 5 per cent more 
and 5.5 per cent less than was actually expended. 

The point that is clearly developed from these 
figures is not that the totals were extremely close 
but that the method of arriving at these totals 
was anything but logical. It can be easily seen 
that where an installation includes only the usual 
items of work in their customary proportions and 
each estimator bases his figures on the correct 
amount of material, the resulting totals reached 
by competent estimators will be extremely accu¬ 
rate. It is also evident that the correctness of 
the totals depends far more upon the proportion 
of each class of work contained in the estimate 
than upon the accuracy with which each class of 
work is priced. Conversely, wherever a group of 
contractors are bidding on an installation com¬ 
posed almost entirely of only one or two items of 


67 


Estimating Without Loss 


work, their labor allowances will be widely sepa¬ 
rated for the reason that there is no diversity 
factor to average the inaccuracies in individual 
items as customarily figured. The point of em¬ 
phasis is not that such an estimate is composed 
of unusual items but, rather, that it is made up 
of only one or two such as are commonly included 
as a part of the average estimate. 

The proof of the foregoing does not depend on 
our analysis of these particular estimates, but 
may be observed in actual practice whenever 
several contractors bid on an installation of this 
sort. 

Inability to Price Accurately 

During the course of a short talk at a meeting 
of the Estimators Association one of the best- 
known contractors in New York City statedJthat, 
in his opinion, if any one contractor were to accept 
an order on a flat unit price to install every ceiling 
outlet in all buildings in the city during the year 
he would undoubtedly “go broke.” 

While this example may be somewhat far¬ 
fetched, it contains more than an element of truth, 
and serves as an * admirable illustration of the 
point in question for the reason that it presup¬ 
poses an entire year’s business solely dependent 
on the ability to price one of the commonest items 
of work and recognizes our present inability to 
do so accurately. 

It would be possible to introduce an almost 
indefinite number of examples, all drawn from 
actual experience, as further proof of the* con¬ 
tention that the methods of figuring labor at 


68 


Why Logical and Accurate Estimating Is Necessary 


present in every-day use are illogical and fre¬ 
quently result in serious errors, but as the fact 
seems to be fairly self-evident and is so generally 
conceded, further proof seems unnecessary. 

We have, then, two largely mechanical difficul¬ 
ties to overcome in order to reduce or eliminate the 
two most serious causes of variations between 
field costs and to enable us to feel reasonably 
certain that our work as estimators is a help and 
not a hindrance to the steady betterment of con¬ 
ditions in the electrical contracting industry. 
These are the adoption of a more systematized 
method of estimating the material requirements, 
particularly on the job having an indefinite lay¬ 
out, and a more detailed and accurate method of 
figuring the labor on each of the principal items 
of material entering into the individual installa¬ 
tion. On the other hand, before any real and 
lasting improvement can be made along these 
lines there will have to be a very decided change 
in the attitude of the average contractor toward 
the whole subject of accurate field costs. 

At present we seem to be in one of those so- 
called vicious circles from which no one can find 
relief or escape without concerted action. We do 
not place much importance on accurate costs be¬ 
cause accurate costs seem to have no relation to 
the price at which the contract is accepted, and 
we are not particularly interested in the price we 
get for the contract because we are not working 
with accurate costs. 

Although the idea is entirely visionary and im¬ 
possible of realization, it would be interesting to 
know what proportion exists between the total 


69 


Estimating Without Loss 


value of the work done at a profit and that done 
at a loss throughout the country during any ordi¬ 
nary year. If, for instance, the value of all the 
contract work completed on a lump-sum basis 
within a year on which a gross profit of more 
than 10 per cent (which is acknowledged to be 
well below the average contractor’s overhead) is 
realized, were placed beside the value of all similar 
work on which a smaller gross profit, or a loss, is 
realized, it is highly probable that the result 
would indicate the desirability of a vigorous 
remedy. 


INADEQUATE WIRING PLANS MAKE 
ESTIMATING DIFFICULT 

By CAMPBELL HIGGINS 

Past President Electrical Estimators Assn, of Greater New York 


T HE process of correctly estimating electrical 
work depends upon a number of factors some¬ 
what outside of the actual measuring and listing 
of quantities. Back of all questions of properly 
reading and analyzing plans and specifications, 
measuring quantities, pricing labor and materials, 
and giving due consideration to overhead, lies the 
whole question of the adequacy of the plans and 
specifications themselves. 

While, undoubtedly, the methods of handling 
electrical contracts vary in different parts of the 
country, the practice of preparing plans and speci¬ 
fications for all but the smaller types of installa¬ 
tion is fairly universal, though the degree of accu¬ 
racy, comprehensiveness and clarity embodied in 
the layout varies within wide limits. 

Not very long ago great differences existed in 
the forms of contracts used for electrical work. 
Each owner, architect or engineer used his own 
judgment in defining the responsibility of the 
electrical contractor in respect to the procedure 
to be followed in case of unsatisfactory work, non- 
fulfilment of contract, terms of payment and a 
score of similar points. This lack of uniformity 


71 



Estimating Without Loss 


in the contract itself was found to be unsatisfac¬ 
tory by all concerned with the result that we now 
have the “Standard Form” of contract indorsed 
and used by a large portion of those in the elec¬ 
trical industry. Whenever a contract is based 
upon this standard form an experienced contrac¬ 
tor already knows the terms contained therein and 
may be sure there is nothing in the fine print 
which might prove troublesome. 

Better Plans Needed 

The necessity for better plans and specifications 
in the electrical industry and the benefits to be 
derived therefrom are just as great as was the 
need for the uniform contract. 

In the previous article an effort was made to 
show that there was something wrong with the 
present method of bidding on competitive work 
when inadequately laid out—something resulting 
in a curtailment of real competition and an un¬ 
healthy development of the industry. 

The more experienced contractor as a rule 
appreciates a properly planned installation, quite 
irrespective of what agency was employed in its 
preparation. He feels secure in bidding on such 
work, knowing that there are no indefinite items 
which can be interpreted as being included. He 
bids more readily because less time is required for 
estimating, and he bids much closer to the actual 
cost of the work because he does not have to 
guess what should have been specified. 

There are, of course, electrical contractors who 
feel that an indefinite layout presents an oppor¬ 
tunity for them to perform a service for the owner 


72 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 


by preparing a careful layout without charge as 
a part of their sales effort. This policy would be 
justified when the owner intends to award the 
contract to a particular contractor whom he has 
called in and upon whose advice he relies. How¬ 
ever, in the vast majority of cases the owner is 
desirous of obtaining so-called competitive bids 
irrespective of whether the work is or is not ade¬ 
quately shown, and in such instances there is a 
net loss to the contractors who spend their 
energies in laying out the work. Several or per¬ 
haps all of the bidders will endeavor to place the 
owner under an obligation by doing his engineer¬ 
ing without charge with the ultimate result that 
the consideration of price will rule. The contrac¬ 
tor bidding on the minimum layout will probably 
obtain the contract, and the cost of estimating 
will be increased for all the bidders. 

Future Load Requirements 

Let us consider for a moment the fundamental 
reasons for improving our layouts of electrical 
installations to a point where the plans are not 
only complete and clear but where the installation 
is designed with a proper view to ultimate loads 
and uses. 

There exists a fairly close analogy between the 
present situation in regard to the public highways 
throughout the country and the electrical installa¬ 
tions now in existence. We have many miles of 
excellent roads, just as we have many first class 
electrical installations, but we have, also, a far 
greater mileage of so-called improved roads, State 
roads, etc., which have failed to last until the 


7 3 


Estimating Without Loss 


indebtedness incurred at the time of their building 
could be liquidated. In all probability there are 
few roads which were built ten or fifteen years 
ago which are serviceable to-day unless they have 
been rebuilt at least once and regularly repaired 
while the original cost has not yet been retired. 

This condition of affairs is fundamentally due 
to lack of foresight and poor planning. No one 
foresaw the weight and volume of the loads to be 
imposed by the present-day automobile, nor the 
speed at which ordinary traffic would move, and 
it is only within the past year that an attempt 
has been made on a large scale to develop a road¬ 
building specification which will insure a proper 
return on the investment. 

Within the electrical industry there is a some¬ 
what analogous situation. Layouts designed for 
loads which were originally thought to be average 
are now known to be decidedly inadequate to meet 
the increased demand, notwithstanding the fact 
that more light is delivered per watt of energy 
consumed at the lamp than was delivered by the 
earlier type of lamps. While further improve¬ 
ment in the design of lamps and other appliances 
is to be expected, it is doubtful if such improve¬ 
ment can keep pace with the increasing demand 
for light and power, so that we may look for a 
considerable increase in loads on a large number 
of existing installations. 

Electrical circuits differ from road beds in one 
important respect, they will carry loads consider¬ 
ably in excess of their rated capacity without 
visible breakdown though with a corresponding 
loss in the energy transmitted and a serious risk 


74 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 

of fire. Should it suddenly become mandatory 
that all circuits be properly fused, the industry 
would be swamped by the demand for additions 
and alterations particularly in respect to those 
installations which were designed to meet the 
minimum requirements at the time of erection. 

One important factor resulting in increased 
lighting loads is the tendency to replace the two- 
lamp ceiling fixture in a room with three or four 
convenience outlets. The average householder is 
to-day more than likely to be equipped with elec¬ 
tric table lamps and appliances of one kind or 
another. 

This is too important a matter to be overlooked, 
for where the two-lamp ceiling fixture formerly 
gave sufficient light for a room full of people the 
present shaded type of lamp can only supply the 
needs of one or two people, although each shaded 
lamp on account of its lower efficiency will con¬ 
sume about the same number of watts as the ceil¬ 
ing fixture replaced. We must therefore design 
our electrical installations with a view to the 
future demands and to insure the best results we 
would do well to encourage the employment of 
experienced engineers. 

Engineering Services 

Those responsible for the erection of the really 
high class type of building, who by their training 
and by the application of good business practices 
in their work, have arrived at the point where 
they are entrusted with the design of large modem 
projects such as office buildings, hotels and first 
class industrial plants have already recognized the 

75 


Estimating Without Loss 


soundness of this principle. In this class of work, 
where the return on the investment must be the 
greatest from all standpoints, and the ultimate 
satisfaction of the tenants insured, the services of 
a competent engineer are almost always engaged. 
His function is not merely to design the layout in 
accordance with the best practice but also to take 
actual charge of the work and to see that the in¬ 
stallation as erected corresponds in all respects 
with his carefully prepared plans and specifica¬ 
tions. In this way the owner is assured of re¬ 
ceiving the full benefits to be derived from the 
proper planning of the work. 

The first of these functions, the design of the 
installation, can be satisfactorily performed by an 
experienced electrical contractor provided he is 
employed as an engineer, but the second and no 
less important function—of overseeing the work 
in progress—cannot be performed by an electrical 
contractor in any case. Either the contractor 
must as an engineer oversee his own work as a 
contractor, or as an engineer he must oversee the 
work of another contractor. In both cases there 
are obvious difficulties. 

Under the present system of bidding, where 
no adequate layout has been provided, each con¬ 
tractor is obliged to make his own as a basis on 
which to bid. This results in a very uneconomical 
duplication of effort and prohibits the contractor 
from laying out and estimating more than the 
very minimum requirements with any hope of 
securing the contract, in spite of the fact that his 
experience might indicate the desirability of treat¬ 
ing the matter in a very different way. 


76 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 


Nothing in the foregoing discussion is to be 
construed as meaning that an experienced elec¬ 
trical contractor is not well qualified to engineer 
satisfactorily even the most difficult installation, 
for by reason of his practical experience he is 
probably the one best fitted to produce the most 
satisfactory and economical results. On the con¬ 
trary it is intended to show that working under 
the usual conditions of competitive bidding there 
is no likelihood of his being able to do it success¬ 
fully. 

We must admit that the best way of serving 
the interests of the owner and of the industry is 
to secure a more universal appreciation of the 
value of engineering performed by specialists 
trained in that work and must encourage the em¬ 
ployment of competent engineers in a supervisory 
capacity over the installation of the work. 

How to Get Better Specifications 

Further, we should seek a way to improve such 
specifications as are written by others than spe¬ 
cialists. There will always be a large amount of 
work of the type required in the average residence 
and in numerous other classes of buildings where 
the services of an engineer will be unobtainable 
for many reasons and often unnecessary. 

At present there is a gradual improvement 
taking place in the average run of plans and 
specifications which are drawn by the architect 
without the aid of an engineer. However, it seems 
that there must be some way to hasten this slow 
growth. 

When we have arrived at the point where the 


77 


Estimating Without Loss 


services of an electrical engineer are employed 
in all possible instances, there will still remain a 
very large volume of work of such a nature that 
the plans must necessarily be drawn by those 
without detailed knowledge, and it is up to us to 
find a way whereby such layouts will contain all 
information essential to the preparation of an 
intelligent bid. 

Although it would be impossible to write a 
standard specification applicable to all classes of 
work in the way which the standard form of 
contract is used, there should be no insurmount¬ 
able difficulty to overcome in the preparation of 
an outline specification which would prove of the 
greatest value in the writing of specifications and 
which should result in far more definite and com¬ 
plete information on which to bid. 

Such an outline specification might logically 
take the form of a questionnaire arranged accord¬ 
ing to subjects so that all matters relating to con¬ 
duit would be under one heading and could be 
found in a certain paragraph. The use of such a 
form would insure a definite order of procedure 
and thereby eliminate the necessity of hunting 
for the desired paragraph and the feeling that 
some important reference may possibly be ob¬ 
scured in a less important passage. 

The questions in such an outline would have to 
be limited to the essential points and if this were 
done properly there could be little question that 
the form would prove useful to the estimator, 
with the added advantage that the resulting 
specification would tend to be much more brief 
and to the point. 


78 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 

One highly practical advantage which would 
result from the use of a questionnaire form in 
which no direct information was contained and 
no preferences stated is the fact that it could 
in no way replace the much more desirable product 
of the electrical engineer. 

Taking electrical quantities off the plans is now 
a fairly well standardized operation, and it would 
therefore be possible to arrange such a form in 
the most convenient order from this point of view. 

Whenever the plans are incomplete a full de¬ 
scription of the work to be done or the purposes 
to be accomplished is of the greatest assistance 
in preparing an estimate and if this information 
were briefly arranged in a definite order under 
logical headings it would be more than doubly 
effective. 

The actual working out of such a scheme could 
be far better done by a group than by any one 
individual, and such a group might logically be 
formed of several experienced estimators, several 
architects and several engineers to insure a proper 
consideration of all viewpoints. 

Information Required 

While no one person is competent to set up a 
comprehensive set of questions, it seems logical 
to give at least an example of what might appear 
under certain headings chosen at random as an 
illustration of about the amount of information 
that would be desirable. 

While the questions on pages 33-36 are by 
no means complete, it is evident that far more 
data are needed on such general subjects as how 


79 


Estimating Without Loss 


much work is included and how it is to be in¬ 
stalled, than is needed on such matters as the 
make of conduit and wire or other material. 

In working out a series of questions it would 
be necessary to keep one point clearly in mind, 
and that is that if an architect is at a loss to 
know the proper way to determine the size of 
an elevator feeder, no amount of questioning is 
going to help him in the least, but if he is re¬ 
minded to state the horsepower of the elevator 
motor he can readily do so by consulting the 
elevator contractor, and in the event that the size 
of the motor has not been determined the speed 
and load or type of duty could be stated. The 
point is that if no information can be given it is 
hardly fair to ask for bids on that item. 

Whatever questions are asked it is evident that 
they can only act as reminders to the specification 
writer to include all the definite information at his 
disposal, and in the absence of detailed instruc¬ 
tions covering the work to set forth the purposes 
to be accomplished so that the contractor may 
readily determine the amount of work required. 

Data Not on Mechanical Plans 

Some of the information asked for under the 
various headings shown could be obtained from 
a set of architectural drawings, but the questions 
are included for the reason that the practice of 
issuing separate mechanical drawings on which 
very little information is given as to the class of 
construction is becoming more and more popular, 
and on many of these mechanical drawings the 
estimator fails to find extremely important infor- 


80 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 

mation covering the conditions under which the 
work is to be done and, therefore, seriously affect¬ 
ing the cost. 

Electrical work shown on a set of mechanical 
drawings is far more easily taken off than when 
shown on an architectural plan on which so many 
trades are covered, and where the electrical work 
is frequently very difficult to find even where it 
has been possible to indicate it, so that estimates 
3ased on an electrical or mechanical set of plans 
are always more accurate with respect to quanti¬ 
ties of material required, though the advantage 
so gained is offset to a considerable extent due 
to the difficulty in properly pricing the labor un¬ 
less the class of construction is well understood. 
The ideal conditions would be found in a clear set 
of mechanical plans accompanied by a few para¬ 
graphs covering the building construction details. 

While there are several well established 
methods of taking electrical quantities off the 
plans, there has been until recently very little 
practical and reliable information published on 
the all-important question of labor costs. Al¬ 
though it is comparatively easy to describe each 
operation involved in taking the quantities off the 
plans and arranging them for ready pricing, it 
is nearly impossible to describe to another pre¬ 
cisely how to price the labor without setting forth 
a multitude of rules all based on a sliding scale. 

The surest way is to outline a method which 
will enable the new estimator to gain the neces¬ 
sary experience in the shortest time and so de¬ 
velop himself to a point where his opinion will 
be accurate. 


81 


Estimating Without Loss 


In a subsequent article a few of the best estab¬ 
lished methods of taking off quantities will be 
reviewed, and methods of knowing labor costs 
will be discussed. 

How to Profit by Mistakes 

As in many other lines of endeavor there seems 
to be at present no short-cut to becoming an ex¬ 
perienced estimator by doing a little light reading 
in leisure hours. Nor is it possible to become a 
well developed all-round estimator capable of tak¬ 
ing off all kinds of jobs and pricing labor with a 
fair degree of accuracy under all conditions unless 
one is in a position to profit by one’s own mis¬ 
takes as well as by the mistakes of others. 

Probably the most illuminating experience the 
estimator can have is to follow one of his own 
jobs to its end and see at first hand the progress 
or lack of progress attained. Then at the end of 
the job to hold a thorough post mortem even 
though it consumes a certain amount of midnight 
oil. 

By taking even the simplest kind of a job on 
which a contract is obtained and keeping a copy 
of the original estimate as well as copies of any 
estimates which may be prepared on additional 
work or changes it will be possible to prepare 
totals of each class of material allowed. Then by 
placing these quantities in one column opposite 
to the actual quantities used as obtained from the 
invoices a valuable and often illuminating com¬ 
parison can be made. 

If the estimator has also kept in close contact 
with the progress of the installation he will be 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 


in a position to determine about where the differ¬ 
ences occurred, and he will almost certainly get 
an entirely new appreciation of the amount of 
conduit consumed in odd places like three-way 
stair lighting circuits and service runs, and he 
may also find why the labor allowed was some¬ 
what further from the truth than he expected. 

If the above analysis were carried out on two 
jobs of each kind commonly handled it would be 
no exaggeration to say that the experience gained 
would place the hard-working estimator in a 
position where his opinion would be sought by 
many with far more years of experience in the 
business. 

Suggested Questionnaire to Secure Data 


Class of Building: 

State whether the building is a new or an 
existing building. 

For what purpose will it probably be used? 
Will there be any unusual dampness, acids, 
fumes or dust, etc., required by the form of occu¬ 
pancy ? 

Location: 

Where is the building located? Nearest rail¬ 
road, and how far from station? 

Class of Construction: 

State type of framing, construction of arches, 
method of reinforcement, type of finished floors, 
kind of partitions, extent of furring and hung 
ceilings, etc. If it is an existing building state 
the nature of the alterations and to what extent 
the floors, partitions, etc., are to be replaced. 


83 



Estimating Without Loss 


The Contract: 

Give the numbers of the plans on which the 
work is shown. What items of work are included 
in this contract, as all lighting work; all power 
work; conduits for public telephones; conduits, 
wires and instruments for inter-communicating 
telephones complete; interior fire alarm system 
complete; time clocks; watchman’s clocks; telau¬ 
tograph system complete; calling systems; mis¬ 
cellaneous low tension work; other systems. 

What items are to be furnished by others and 
installed by this contractor, as motor starters; 
motors; public telephone instruments; lighting 
fixtures; fire alarm apparatus; service cut-outs; 
transformers, etc. 

What items will be furnished and installed 
under another contract, as fixtures; meters; ele¬ 
vator work; elevator signal system; motors; motor 
starters; service connections outside of building 
wall. 

Scope of Work: 

State whether lighting work begins at service 
switch or at transformers and where located. 
Give general characteristics of lighting installa¬ 
tion including location of main switchboard and 
its functions; location of panels and method of 
feeding and any special requirements in regard 
to circuit work. 

State where power work begins; what is in¬ 
cluded; give load in horsepower or amperes or 
describe the machinery to be operated. 

Outline the scope of other systems included in 
the contract. Is any work included which is not 
shown on the plans? 


3-1 


Inadequate Wiring Plans Make Estimating Difficult 
Service Connections: 

What company is to provide the service for 
light and power? State the voltage, number of 
phases, number of wires and number of cycles 
to be used for the interior distribution of both 
light and power as well as for the line on the 
primary side of the transformers. 

Will separate services be brought into the build¬ 
ing for light and power? 

Is it intended to separate the light and power 
systems at the point of service entrance or at the 
main switchboard? 

State any known requirements in regard to 
metering. 

Method of Installing Branch Conduits: 

Is the branch circuit work to be installed, 
exposed or concealed? 

Is the work to be installed approximately as 
shown on the plans? 

Is the work as shown on the plans to be con¬ 
sidered as diagrammatic and showing only the 
results to be accomplished? 

Will there be any special requirements regard¬ 
ing the size of circuit conduits or the number of 
wires contained therein insisted upon? 

Conduit: 

State whether black enameled conduit or gal¬ 
vanized conduit is to be used. 

State if armored cable may be used. 

If a particular make is desired, give trade name. 


85 


Estimating Without Loss 


Wire: 

State what grade of wire is desired, whether 
code, intermediate, or 30 per cent Para. 

If a particular make is desired give manufac¬ 
turer’s name. 

Will any lead-covered or other special wire be 
required? 


ORDERLY ARRANGEMENT OF 
QUANTITIES NECESSARY 
FOR PRICING 

By CAMPBELL HIGGINS 

Past President Electrical Estimators Assn, of Greater New York 


B EFORE deciding how an estimate should be 
prepared we must determine the degree of 
accuracy and completeness required in the fin¬ 
ished product. 

As a rule many estimates are prepared for each 
contract obtained and the more hurriedly the 
work is done and the more short-cuts that are 
used the greater will be the number of estimates 
to the number of contracts actually obtained, for 
there is a marked difference between the estimate 
covering an installation on which the bidder has 
every reason to believe he will receive more than 
average consideration and the estimate covering 
work on which, for any reason, he can see but 
little chance of being considered as favorably as 
some other bidder. This is apparent in many of 
the figures submitted in competitive bidding. 

The ultimate purpose of estimating is to deter¬ 
mine the net cost of the work and for that reason 
many of us are tempted to believe that any 
method which enables us to do this will meet all 
requirements. There are, however, several other 


87 



Estimating Without Loss 


highly desirable ends to be served. This point 
can best be illustrated by assuming a rather ex¬ 
treme case. If the value of the work to be done 
is the only information sought, the estimate might 
be made by lumping all the systems in the build¬ 
ing, possibly without any attempt to separate 
labor, material, overhead and profit, the counting 
and figuring being largely done on the plans them¬ 
selves and only the briefest summary used for 
pricing. 

Should the contract be received the only infor¬ 
mation of value at hand would be the total figure 
and for detailed information it would be neces¬ 
sary to estimate the job a second time. 

On the other hand, if all the work has been done 
in a logical and orderly manner, each system being 
taken off separately on suitable forms on which 
all figuring is shown in such a way that it can 
be checked by the maker or by another person, it 
will not only be far more accurate but in the end 
very little more time will be consumed when all 
the factors such as hunting for errors and fre¬ 
quent interruptions are considered. If the quanti¬ 
ties are well arranged on the take-off sheets the 
labor required to transfer them to the pricing 
sheets will be standardized and one of the greatest 
single sources of error will be correspondingly re¬ 
duced. It will be possible to adopt and follow a 
regular way of making up the pricing sheets 
wherein all separate systems are treated as sep¬ 
arate estimates, each arranged in the same way. 

The advantages to be derived from a well 
arranged set of pricing sheets are apparent when 
negotiating the contract, since any part may be 


88 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 

considered separately if changes or omissions are 
to be made. After the contract has been obtained, 
the estimate will form a permanent record which 
may be set up as a guide in doing each portion of 
the work whether it be ordering material, check¬ 
ing progress reports on labor expended at various 
stages of the operation, or making out the appli¬ 
cation for inspections. 

What we are seeking then is a method of pro¬ 
cedure which will give us information sufficiently 
accurate for all practical purposes in the shortest 
time and with the least amount, of effort or chance 
of serious error. 

General Features 

Before starting to take off any of the quantities 
it is well to glance over the plans to determine the 
main characteristics of the building, and the 
extent and class of the work shown or required. 
A little time spent in getting an idea of the layout 
will often do away with the necessity of repeat¬ 
ing a considerable part of the work due to starting 
without having seen some important requirement. 

First see if there is a list of symbols indicating 
the kind of equipment to be used at each outlet 
and note any special provisions. Then be sure 
that the circuit work as laid out clearly shows 
how the outlets are to be connected on the various 
circuits and how the home runs to the panelboards 
are to be arranged. A large number of plans are 
diagrammatic in this respect, and a certain amount 
of re-grouping may be necessary to provide a 
workable and economical installation. Of course, 


89 


Estimating Without Loss 


any laying out that must be done should be per¬ 
formed before any attempt is made to take off 
the circuits. 

Note whether the locations of the panelboards 
are given and whether the number of circuits to 
be provided on each is clearly marked either on 
the floor plans or on the riser diagram. It is im¬ 
portant to go carefully into this matter for in the 
absence of detailed information on the number of 
panel circuits, or the size of the feeders, it will 
be necessary when counting the outlets to sub¬ 
divide each class into as many groups as the num¬ 
ber of watts may require in order to figure to 
total load on each feeder. While on the other 
hand if the feeder sizes are given it will be pos¬ 
sible to count all ceiling outlets in one group 
thereby saving time. 

All notes on the plans applying to electrical 
work should be read and circled in crayon to in¬ 
sure finding them again when required, and the 
same precaution may be taken with respect to 
panel locations, service location and similar points. 

Next, the general clauses of the specifications 
should be read with as much care as may be re¬ 
quired to eliminate the necessity of referring to 
them again. Such sections of the electrical speci¬ 
fications as apply to the part of the work to be 
taken off first, probably the lighting work, should 
be carefully read and notes made on all important 
points while the corresponding paragraphs should 
be checked lightly to indicate that they have been 
covered. If the plans are clear it may be possible 
at this stage to list the requirements for special 
material such as switchboard, panelboards and 


90 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 


signal apparatus so that the manufacturers may 
have sufficient time to prepare their bids with 
care. 


Counting Outlets 

The actual operation of counting outlets may 
be done in several equally good ways but there 
are a few well defined principles which the expe¬ 
rienced estimator follows almost instinctively. It 
is usually best to start with the basement or 
lowest floor and work up, completing the count 
on each floor in succession, as this will give a 
better idea of the building and the arrangement 
of the electrical work than any other method. 

Starting with the ceiling outlets and taking the 
brackets, lamp receptacles, etc., then the switches 
and finally the base receptacles, will prove to be 
the best order, because the ceiling outlets are as 
a rule the most widely distributed and will lead to 
covering the plans completely, thereby giving an 
opportunity to note unusual or obscure symbols. 
Never should the switches be counted last, because 
the symbol for this outlet is about the hardest to 
find and errors are more frequently made in 
counting them than in any other type of outlet. 
This is particularly true when the circuit work 
between the switch and the outlet controlled by 
it is not indicated on the plans. By taking off 
the base receptacles after the switches an oppor¬ 
tunity is provided to pick up a number of strays. 

Where there are comparatively few low-tension 
outlets it is well to count them directly after the 
lighting outlets to avoid handling the plans over 
again. They should be checked off in a different 


91 


Estimating Without Loss 


colored crayon so they may be the more easily 
found when measuring the low-tension conduits. 

In counting outlets of any kind it is most ad¬ 
visable to use a mechanical counter or “tallying 
machine” operated in the left hand as the outlet 
symbol is checked off on the plans with a crayon. 
On large plans this is the only way to insure 
accuracy and avoid errors or repetition in case 
of interruption or noisy surroundings. The use 
of such a counter will have the added advantage 
of reducing a mental effort to a purely mechanical 
one accompanied by little or no strain or serious 
fatigue which might result in unreliable results 
on a large job. In the interest of speed it is well 
to avoid hunting for the very last' outlet of each 
kind on the plan, for when the circuit work is 
measured it will be possible to pick up the few 
outlets which may have been overlooked. Should 
a number be found, because the prints are poor, 
it may be well to make a small, suitable addition 
at the end. In this way a very close approxima¬ 
tion may be made without losing too much time. 

It is highly desirable to use a regular set of 
forms for the outlet and circuit work schedule as 
well as for the feeders and other parts of the work. 
In the absence of such a form ordinary ruled pad 
paper can be employed by ruling vertical columns 
for each type of outlet. At the top of each column 
it is well to draw the symbol used on the plans to 
represent the outlet in question, to insure its 
proper identification, and directly over the symbol 
may be placed the catalog number or any desired 
note. 


92 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 

In the extreme left-hand column place the floor 
number, starting at the top with the basement, 
and in the next column place the vertical heights 
from floor to floor so that they will be readily 
available when measuring the circuit work and 
will form a permanent record. At the extreme 
right two or three columns somewhat wider than 
the others should be provided for the circuit work 
measurements. Here the total of conduit 

containing one circuit and %-in. conduit with two 
circuits or any other such combinations may be 
recorded on the same line with all the outlets on 
the corresponding floor. 

When the layout for a number of floors is shown 
on a single typical plan it is well to overcome the 
temptation to multiply by the number of such 
floors. A more accurate way is to copy each floor 
in its proper place and so avoid the chance of 
leaving out an entire floor or possible duplication. 
There is the added advantage of being able to 
record in its proper place any slight change in the 
3 quantities which may be covered by notes on the 
plans covering elevator shaft outlets and changes 
in stair-well lighting. 

The various columns of outlets should not be 
added until after the circuit work has been meas¬ 
ured for there will certainly be a number of cor¬ 
rections to make and the adding will have to be 
done over again in any event. 

Circuit Work 

The circuit work will, as a rule, be measured 
next and, as this item represents by far the larg¬ 
est part of the average installation, the greatest 


93 


Estimating Without Loss 


care should be exercised in doing the work in an 
accurate and systematic way. While the expe¬ 
rienced estimator may approximate the amount 
of circuit work with a fair degree of accuracy, it 
cannot be measured until it has been laid out, 
and no attempt should be made to do so. A lay¬ 
out which will be suitable for the purpose may be 
made with a colored crayon, but the work should 
be done in much the way it is to be installed, and 
not less than a floor should be completed before 
the measuring is begun. 

At the present time the only sure way to meas¬ 
ure circuit work is with a map-measuring machine 
known as a “rotometer,” which records the dis¬ 
tance over which it is run in feet and inches. 
Several models are carried by the larger dealers 
in drawing materials. In using the rotometer the 
beginner must remember that it measures only 
the horizontal portions of the runs and that in 
some kinds of buildings with small rooms and 
many switches it frequently happens that there 
is more conduit in the vertical portions than in 
the horizontal, so that a systematic way of keep¬ 
ing track of the verticals must be employed. 

It is also well to remember that the rotometer 
will run through stair-wells and columns as well 
as elsewhere on the plans, and it should therefore 
be carefully run over the course to be followed 
by the conduit, especially when the panelboard is 
located behind an elevator shaft or stair-well. It 
should be evident then that it is best to make 
haste slowly at least until the work becomes al¬ 
most second nature. 


04 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 

No more than a few circuits should be measured 
at one time and each should be checked off on the 
plans at a point near the panel. Where the floor 
is large there will be a number of readings to 
make and these should be set down on a scratch 
pad or on the reverse side of one of the regular 
forms where they can be added when the floor is 
finished and the total carried to its place on the 
schedule. 

The use of the rotometer is extremely simple, 
and the results will be accurate provided no large 
error is made as sometimes happens to the most 
experienced by letting the hands pass their great¬ 
est reading unnoticed, thereby failing to record 
a complete revolution, or to the application of the 
wrong scale, which will le^d to the largest error 
of all. 


Estimating the Verticals 

Estimating the verticals is a far more difficult 
matter for the obvious reason that the plans are 
drawn in one plane and there is nothing to indi¬ 
cate that the vertical distance from a bracket 
outlet to a switch is frequently 11 ft. while the 
horizontal distance may be only 12 ft. or very 
much less. In like manner ten ceiling outlets on 
a circuit may require more than 100 ft. of hori¬ 
zontal while there will be as much as 20 ft. of 
vertical at the outlets, not counting the drop to 
the panel. 

Therefore, since the horizontal portions are 
shown and the verticals are not shown, it is ob¬ 
vious that the larger errors will be made in meas¬ 
uring the latter, and it will follow that the most 


95 


Estimating Without Loss 


successful results will be obtained by following 
the simplest method. For even though a rather 
rough allowance is made, provided it is easily 
done, it will be better than too great a degree of 
refinement, which may prove difficult when fol¬ 
lowed for hours at a time. The effort required 
to add all of the various vertical distances, when 
continued for an hour or more at a time, will be¬ 
come so monotonous that the work will progress 
very slowly or mistakes will be made. 

The work may be more rapidly and better done 
by reducing it to a purely mechanical operation 
either by measuring the verticals with the roto- 
meter or counting them with the counter. In the 
first case it will be necessary to lay off a line near 
the panel location to the scale of the drawing, 
marking the floor height as well as the heights of 
receptacles, switches and brackets, etc., so that 
it will be possible to measure the desired length 
of vertical in the same way as the horizontal. 
This method will produce very accurate results if 
carefully done though it may be a little slow. 

A method which combines speed with accuracy 
sufficient for all practical purposes may be based 
on establishing a constant in the nature of a 
greatest common divisor of all the vertical dis¬ 
tances and counting the number of times this unit 
measurement occurs in each circuit. A very close 
approximation may be made in this way by con¬ 
sidering the height to all switches as 5 ft. and 
from the switches to the ceiling as 5 ft. where the 
floors are 10 ft. high, or as 10 ft. where the floors 
are about 14 to 16 ft. high. The brackets can be 
taken as 5 ft., also, because the average will work 


96 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 



' i 


97 


Proper Segregation of Materials on Pricing Sheets 




























































































Estimating Without Loss 


out in the end since some will be fed by dropping 
from the ceiling and some will be reached from 
the floor. 

The verticals at the ceiling outlets, where the 
conduit must drop through the floor arch, as well 
as the heights to the base receptacles, may be 
obtained by allowing two or more outlets to each 
5 ft. counted, or by passing over these lengths 
until the floor is complete and then multiplying 
the number of such outlets by the actual require¬ 
ments. In this way it is possible to count all the 
verticals expressed in some fixed unit by operat¬ 
ing the counter in the left hand while the roto- 
meter is being used in the right hand in a way 
which will become purely mechanical after a little 
practice. 

When the floor has been completed all the en¬ 
tries on the scratch pad are added and the totals 
of each column carried to the proper place on the 
outlet and circuit schedule, where they are en¬ 
tered neatly to provide for easy adding. 

When all the lighting circuits, including the 
stairways, elevator light and special circuits have 
been completed add all the columns, figure the 
total of each class of conduit and wire and allow 
at least a foot of duplex or two feet of single for 
each outlet for slack, and a liberal quantity to 
cover the wire in the panel boxes and finally bring 
all the totals up to the next even figure to ex¬ 
pedite pricing and to cover small omissions. 

When miscellaneous low-tension and bell work 
is indicated on the plans it is taken off in much 
the same way. However, it sometimes happens 
that a number of intercommunicating telephones 


98 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 

or annunciators are to be connected by means of a 
large number of wires or a lead-covered cable of 
an expensive sort running to various floors, though 
not shown on the plans. The best way, therefore, 
to obtain the measurements will be to make a 
diagrammatic layout on a blank sheet by locating 
the outlets at random without reference to the 
floors on which they occur and connecting them 
in the desired sequence. 

The number of wires in each part of the sys¬ 
tem can then be shown, and the actual distance 
required between outlets as measured from the 
plans can be noted for each run, from which the 
totals of each size of conduit and the amount of 
wire can be obtained with the added advantage of 
providing a record of the layout on which the esti¬ 
mate is based. 

Feeders and Motor Circuits 

Feeders and motor circuits are almost always 
measured in the same way and all regular sets of 
estimating sheets include a feeder schedule ar¬ 
ranged to list each feeder separately. An excel¬ 
lent schedule may be improvised by using an ordi¬ 
nary sheet of ruled paper on which vertical col¬ 
umns are drawn for each of the following heads 
which will appear at the top of the page from 
left to right: (a) feeder number; (b) originates 
at; (c) terminates at; (d) number of wires; (e) 
size of wires; (f) size of conduit; (g) length of 
run; (h) feet of wire; (i) elbows; (j) condulets; 
(k) remarks. 

By arranging the work in this way it will al¬ 
ways be possible to identify any particular feeder 


99 


Estimating Without Loss 


in case of a change, or to permit a check being 
made by another estimator; because, reading from 
left to right, the story covering each feeder is 
complete. 

Few feeder diagrams are laid out to scale and 
it is therefore necessary to figure the verticals 
from the floor-to-floor heights while the horizon¬ 
tals are measured directly from the plans with 
the rotometer. In a one or two-story building 
the feeders are measured one at a time in much 
the same way as circuit work only with due re¬ 
gard for running at right angles where required 
if the work is to be exposed. 

On the other hand where the building is of 
small floor area and many stories in height the 
vertical portions will constitute the major part of 
the work and in such cases it will be well to avoid 
adding the floor heights for each individual 
feeder. A better way is to carefully figure the 
vertical distance from the top or bottom of the 
main switchboard to the panel height at each floor 
and mark the proper lengths on the riser diagram, 
the length at the top floor being checked against 
the total of the floor heights. 

The length of any feeder may then be obtained 
accurately by adding the height of the floor at 
which it terminates to the distance between the 
main switchboard and the foot of the shaft or ris¬ 
ing point. 

Before starting the work it is well to check up 
any offsets in the shaft which will have to be con¬ 
sidered or the possibility of a room being located 
directly in the point of rise. 


100 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 


Lastly it must be remembered that the one-way 
measurements of the conduit and wire will almost 
never be the same since the conduit will stop at a 
pullbox over the switchboard while the wires will 
be carried a certain distance further both in a 
horizontal and vertical direction to reach the 
switch. More wire than conduit will also be re¬ 
quired at panels, pull boxes, etc., where the con¬ 
duit is omitted. When taking off feeders it is 
therefore necessary to decide whether the conduit 
lengths are to be measured with allowances for 
the additional wire, or whether lengths of wire 
are to be measured with deductions for the con¬ 
duit that will not be required. 

Probably the most satisfactory and the safest 
way is to enter under the column marked “length 
of run” the total length of the feeder cables one 
way as though the conduit continued for the en¬ 
tire distance, since this length when multiplied 
by the number of cables will give the correct 
amount of cable required. The conduit deduc¬ 
tions can be taken care of when transferring to 
the conduit summary sheet for totaling each size, 
from which in turn the results are carried to the 
pricing sheet. 

The feeder schedule is the best place to make 
all original entries covering such items as pull 
boxes, cable support boxes, cable supports, motor 
switches and motor starters, the number of each 
being placed in additional columns or under “re¬ 
marks” opposite the feeder on which they occur. 

Where motors form a part of the installation 
the specifications must be carefully read to deter¬ 
mine who is responsible for furnishing or install- 


101 


Estimating Without Loss 


ing the starters, for there is frequently a good 
deal of uncertainty on such starters as are re¬ 
quired for the heating and ventilating motors. 

Panels and Switchboard 

If the panels and switchboard are clearly shown 
the quantities can be easily transferred from the 
drawings to the pricing sheets. In doing this 
work, however, it is well to enumerate the vari¬ 
ous sizes of panels by giving the number of cir¬ 
cuits and in the case of the switchboard to set 
forth the number of each size of switches because 
all this information will be required in pricing the 
labor. 

On the other hand if the details of the panels 
have not been worked out the estimator must 
determine what the requirements will be when 
the circuit work is being measured. * 

Low-Tension Work 

The low-tension work can usually be taken off 
by following one or more of the operations already 
described, but this part of the work should be 
just as clearly set forth on the estimate sheets 
as the light and power work, so that the number 
of outlets in each system, the conduit, wire and 
apparatus required will be separately recorded. 

When all the quantities have been properly 
taken off the plans every item of material will 
appear in the estimate sheets, which, together 
with the abstract of the specifications, will form 
a complete account of the job from which the 
pricing sheets can be made up without further 
reference to the plans or specifications. The ar- 


102 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 

rangement of the work on the estimate and work 
sheets should be such that each step in their prep¬ 
aration, as well as the operation of transfer to 
the pricing sheets can be checked either by the 
individual who made up the estimate or by an¬ 
other. 

Pricing Sheets 

There are several well established methods of 
arranging the quantities on the pricing sheets 
each of which has a direct bearing on the method 
or lack of method involved in pricing the labor 
costs. 

The order in which the material is entered on 
the pricing sheets is of secondary importance pro¬ 
vided the arrangement is (1) orderly and (2) al¬ 
ways the same so that a given item may always 
be found in its accustomed place. A far more 
important consideration is that all the items act¬ 
ually are transferred and priced for it is remark¬ 
able how frequently important items fail to find 
their way to the pricing sheet even though care¬ 
fully taken off in the first place. 

In making up the pricing sheets the main point 
is to separate the systems and price each inde¬ 
pendently. The next point is to follow the same 
order of arrangement in all the systems. 

Since the lighting work is the most important 
part of the average estimate and contains more 
items of material, it will serve best as an example 
for detailed consideration. 

If, for no other reason, the fact that the out¬ 
lets are always the first item taken off the plans 
would seem to be a point in favor of starting the 
pricing sheets with a list of all the outlet boxes, 


103 


Estimating Without Loss 


in other words making the transfer in the same 
order followed in taking off from the plans. An¬ 
other merit of this arrangement is that a com¬ 
prehensive list of all the outlets will give a better 
idea of the installation than any other part of the 
material list. 

Start with the left hand column of the outlet 
schedule and enter the total count of each class 
on the pricing sheet with a brief description on 
the box and the fittings forming a part of the box. 
A little care in enumerating such items as hang¬ 
ers, studs and covers will have the double ad¬ 
vantage of preventing their omission and calling 
them directly to the attention of whoever may 
price the material. When all the boxes have been 
transferred and checked off on the outlet schedule, 
the total of all the lighting outlets should be 
footed up and noted on the pricing sheet as an 
indication that the count is complete. 

The branch circuit conduit should be placed next 
after the outlet boxes and may be followed by 
such items as locknuts and bushings and other 
conduit fittings. 

Finishing Follows Roughing 

When all the roughing material pertaining to 
the branch circuit work is listed the finishing 
items should be placed next rather than the main 
feeder conduit. If the outlet boxes are listed in 
accordance with the uses to which they are to be 
put it will be possible to obtain the count of all 
wiring devices directly from the pricing sheet. 
When all lamp receptacles, exit signs, drop cord 
outfits, switches and insertion receptacles have 


104 


Orderly Arrangement of Quantities Necessary for Pricing 

been entered, the wire for the branch circuits is 
entered next, followed by an item for tape, solder, 
etc., which completes the branch circuit work. 

The lighting feeders would form the next part 
of the estimate followed by the power feeders and 
motor circuits unless all feeders have been taken 
in one group. In any event the conduit would 
come first followed by the elbows, locknuts and 
bushings, conduit hangers, condulets, cable sup¬ 
ports, etc. Then the wire and finally the pull 
boxes would form the last item carried from the 
feeder schedule as this will place the pull boxes 
next to the panelboards with which they are us¬ 
ually priced. 

After the panels and switchboard will come any 
apparatus of a similar nature such as motor 
switches, motor starters, carriage call and nu¬ 
merous other items of a special nature. 

To a person somewhat unfamiliar with the prep¬ 
aration of a detailed estimate in the manner de¬ 
scribed or in a similar way, it might appear that 
the time consumed in making a complete record 
of the job on the estimate sheets would be exces¬ 
sive. However, a few trials will show that no 
unnecessary steps have been described. Some es¬ 
timators have a habit of doing their figuring on 
the margin of the plans or on scraps of paper 
which are thrown away, only the pricing sheets 
being kept. If the quantities are measured and 
not “estimated” each of the above steps will be 
taken in some form or other and the small amount 
of time spent in arranging the work in an orderly 
way will be more than offset by the time saved 
in making up the pricing sheets. With a well 


105 


Estimating Without Loss 


established form of estimate and a definite method 
of procedure in making up the pricing sheets, the 
work can be done with surprising speed and the 
chance of making errors will be greatly reduced 
The accompanying pricing sheets (see page 47) 
covering the quantities required for the lighting 
work in a six-story and basement factory of re¬ 
inforced concrete, 140 ft. by 40 ft. are given as 
a hypothetical example of what might be consid¬ 
ered the minimum amount of information on 
which an intelligent bid could be based. The items 
are arranged in approximately the order described 
in the foregoing description. 


106 


SIMPLE AND ACCURATE METHOD 
OF KEEPING LABOR COST 
RECORDS 

By CAMPBELL HIGGINS 

Past President Electrical Estimators Assn, of Greater New York 


<<T_TOW much did you figure for labor ?” 

A Consider a purely typical electrical in¬ 
stallation such as a small residence, apartment 
house or loft' building and ask the above question 
of ten competent estimators, each familiar with 
this class of work, and provided each estimator 
puts the same amount of time and thought into 
the preparation of his figure, the answers will al¬ 
most certainly be very close together. 

“How did you figure the labor ?” 

Consider any kind of electrical installation ever 
heard of, whether of a usual or unusual kind, and 
ask any number of experienced estimators the 
above question, and it will not be possible to find 
two who will answer in the same way. If one 
should feel that this statement is overdrawn, let 
him take ten labor estimates which agree as to 
totals, and arrange them in vertical columns so 
that the amount allowed for each item can be 
compared by reading from left to right and also 
so that the amounts allowed by each man for the 
main divisions such as conduit, wire and finishing 


107 



Estimating Without Loss 


can be compared. In the first article of this series 
such a comparison was made and it will not be 
necessary to repeat the results in detail. 

Although labor estimates are prepared in an 
almost infinite variety of ways, each differing in 
some respect from the others, almost all of the 
methods are based on a series of averages. Even 
when the labor is priced with unit costs of the 
usual kind, an analysis will show that these units 
have little relation to the actual cost of the items 
to which they are applied, although the sum of 
the resulting totals worked out by several indi¬ 
viduals will frequently check closely when the in¬ 
stallation includes only the usual items of work in 
their customary proportion. In other words, we 
are at present pricing our labor with arbitrary 
unit costs which have been developed through a 
long process of trial and error, in which we com¬ 
pare the total labor figured with the total labor 
expended, and are satisfied if we get fairly good 
results on the most common type of installation. 

Such unit costs are scaled up and down to cover 
various classes of work under different condi¬ 
tions, but they are purely arbitrary and can have 
no close relation to the actual cost of the items 
to which they are applied until we find a means 
of approximating the amount expended for each 
item of labor to be separately priced. Since these 
are not as a rule clearly seen by the average elec¬ 
trical contractor or estimator who has not ana¬ 
lyzed his work, it may be well to illustrate the 
point in question. 

Many comparisons between estimates prepared 
by well established and experienced firms show 


108 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 

that the majority will follow approximately the 
same procedure, and where the wage scale hap¬ 
pens to be $14.50 for a wireman and helper, the 
figures used will be about as follows: On a given 
job where the average length between outlets is 


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INDEX TO LABOR HEADINGS 

Each item is numbered in orderly sequence and given a page number at 
the right. Blank spaces are allowed for items that might arise and are 
not specifically provided for in the list. For other illustrations see 
pages 60 and 61 . 


20 feet the labor for any outlet box will be figured 
at $0.50 each; circuit conduit either % in. or % 
in. will be figured at $0.08 per foot, or including 
the labor on outlet boxes, $0,105 per foot. All 
the larger conduit will be scaled upward in direct 


109 






























































































Estimating Without Loss 


proportion to its size. No comparisons made to 
date have revealed a case where the labor for a 
larger size of conduit has been figured lower than 
for the next smaller size, though the conditions 
surrounding the installation many times clearly 
indicated that the smaller conduit would cost 



much more per foot to install due to difficulties 
to be overcome. 

In the same estimate the circuit wires, No. 14 
duplex, will be figured at $8.00 per thousand feet 
to cover the cost of pulling in complete; while 
switches and receptacles will no doubt be figured 
at $0.25 each to cover installing and connecting 
complete with plates. 


no 






























































































Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 


If we compare these commonly used figures with 
unit costs derived by keeping an accurate daily 
record of all labor expended on the job under dis¬ 
cussion, we will almost certainly find that the 
actual cost of the branch circuit conduit including 
all outlet boxes, was more in the neighborhood of 
$0,085 per foot, while the cost of pulling the du¬ 



plex was around $15.00 per thousand feet, and 
the cost of installing and connecting switches and 
receptacles complete was about $0.50 each. We 
will also find that differences of a similar order 
consistently occur throughout the estimate. 

Cost records which are kept in the same way, 
although by different foremen on a number of 
jobs, all show, nevertheless, approximately the 


in 
























































































Estimating Without Loss 


same results when units are worked out from the 
material actually shipped to the job. Conse¬ 
quently one is compelled to admit that the pres¬ 
ent arbitrary units are consistently high on one 
branch of the work, consistently low on another 
branch, while in the case of many individual items, 
the estimated cost bears not the slightest rela¬ 
tion to the labor actually expended. 

The more one studies the prevailing methods of 
estimating labor on electrical work in comparison 
with what the work actually costs, the more forci¬ 
bly is one convinced that the unit costs generally 
used are about as arbitrary a measurement of 
value as they could possibly be and that the accu¬ 
racy of the total labor figure is dependent solely 
on maintaining the customary proportion between 
the items of work. 

As a matter of fact, those who undertake only 
a limited and definite class of work such as the 
small residence or apartment house, have found 
that other less troublesome units or common di¬ 
visors can be used quite as readily. Moreover, 
when work is sufficiently standardized, the entire 
cost of material, labor, overhead and profit can be 
quite accurately determined by pricing so much 
per outlet, or even so much per square or cubic 
foot. 

However, considering the entire field of electri¬ 
cal work, it must be admitted that pricing by 
counting outlets is about as accurate as pricing a 
suit of clothes by counting the buttons and that 
using a unit per cubic foot would be just about as 


112 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 


dependable as pricing an excavation job by cubic 
measure without reference to the presence of 
sand, rock, water or quicksand. 


Labor Cost Important 

If we are to price the labor on all kinds of work 
accurately, we must know how much the labor 
for each part of the work costs under different 
conditions. These costs can be known accurately 
only by keeping a record by which the labor ex¬ 
pended each day will be distributed over the items 
installed, so that at any time the various accounts 
in the record can be added and the total checked 
with the payroll to date or to the end of the job. 

At the completion of the job, the office ledger 
will show a certain amount expended for labor 
and the sum of all the accounts in the job record 
when balanced against the ledger will show if all 
the labor has been accounted for (allowing 1 per 
cent or 2 per cent for error). One can feel rea¬ 
sonably sure that the labor was correctly distrib¬ 
uted in any particular case and almost certain 
of its accuracy if the results derived from the 
figures on several different jobs show the same 
general characteristics. 

Having the total labor charge distributed over 
the proper items, the unit costs are figured by 
dividing each labor total by the total material 
installed as obtained directly from the job requi¬ 
sitions or invoices supplemented by the count of 
outlets appearing on the final plans and such notes 
as have been kept on miscellaneous matters. 

iV:j » 


Estimating Without Loss 


Eight or nine years ago, such a system was 
worked out by one of the leading contractors in 
New York and operated for more than four years 
by the writer, during which time many difficulties 
were overcome and improvements made. Over a 
year ago, the Estimators Association of Greater 
New York took up the further development and 
application of the system with the result that 
we now have a fairly well standardized procedure 
which can be followed by anyone having the neces- 
cary enthusiasm. 

We do not claim that the system as now used is 
entirely free from defects and it is certain that 
many improvements will be made as soon as it 
comes into more general use. The point is that 
this method of arriving at labor costs is entirely 
practical and its use will result in the accumula¬ 
tion of extremely accurate costs, in a convenient 
form without appreciable expense or lost time on 
the job. 

We all know how often attempts along this line 
have been made, only to be abandoned. In' most 
cases no doubt the trouble has been due to an 
attempt to obtain too many details by a cumber¬ 
some method, or because the cost keeper lost con¬ 
tact with the job. 

The first step in developing a cost system of 
this kind is to find a practical and easy method of 
charging the labor to the desired operations or 
items. Having been asked repeatedly how I suc¬ 
ceeded in getting the foreman on the job to make 
the proper sub-divisions of the labor, it may be 
well before going further to cover this important 
point by describing exactly what he does. 


114 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 


Recording Hours of Labor 

At the end of the day or the first thing in the 
morning, when making up the payroll, the fore¬ 
man notes on a slip of paper the total number of 
hours as recorded in the time book for each class 
of labor. On an average job, for example, he 


might have: 

Foreman 8 hours.$10.00 

Wireman 16 hours. 18.00 

Helpers 24 hours. 16.50 

Total .$44.50 


The foreman readily recalls that the two teams 
were working on branch circuit conduits the en¬ 
tire day and that he and his helper were laying 
out and marking centers on the floor above all 
morning, and during the afternoon he set the 
first-floor panel box, which took about one hour, 
and during the remainder of the afternoon he 
and his helper were working on the two-inch con¬ 
duit riser. Setting these items down as he recalls 
them, he will arrive at the following figures: 


V 2 in. and % in. conduit, team 

16 hours.$29.00 

Laying out work, foreman 

and helper 4 hours. 7.75 

Setting panel box, foreman 

and helper 1 hour. 1.94 

2 in. conduit, foreman and 
helper 8 hours. 5.81 


Total 


115 


$44.50 













Estimating Without Loss 


The important part is now done and all that 
remains is to enter the four amounts under the 
proper item numbers in the book, at the same time 
recording the total payroll for the day under its 
own separate heading. 

Use of Item Numbers 

There is no intention to make this operation 
seem easier than it actually is, but the example 
given is typical of most days on the average job. 
As a matter of fact, a foreman will soon become 
familiar with the item numbers and will use them 
as a substitute for the descriptive matter together 
with abbreviations for the other words. The 
amount of time involved, therefore, is not serious. 
To make this task even easier a rate card without 
fractions is provided, giving the amount for each 
rate and for a team, for from one to eight hours, 
and for multiplies of eight hours. 

As a rule, a foreman will have no difficulty in 
keeping the time for the number of men working 
directly under him, provided, of course, he makes 
up the record book daily. 

On an extremely large job, the sub-foreman is 
relied on for the sub-division of the time of those 
working under him. This last method was used 
successfully on a job where from fifty to sixty 
men were regularly employed, each sub-foreman 
turning in his report daily to the time clerk whose 
duty it was to make up the final sheet and submit 
it to the superintendent before entering in the 
book. 

In actual practice, few foremen have been found 
who experienced difficulty with the task. In fact, 


116 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 

most of them will do the work willingly and in a 
very short time, once they are interested and un¬ 
derstand what is desired. However, until the 
foreman is thoroughly familiar with the system, 
it has always been necessary to keep in contact 



title page 

Numerous items are tabulated 
here that are not mentioned 
elsewhere. The information, 
however, is valuable to the esti¬ 
mator when working up future 
calculations so that he may 
make sufficient allowances for 
the class of construction in¬ 
volved. 



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SAMPLE PAGE 

Showing method of keeping 
record by separating time of 
foreman, journeyman and help¬ 
ers on an imaginary factory of 
rather large area. There was 
one foreman at $10 per day; 
one wireman at $9 per day and 
two helpers at $5 each per day. 


with him, visiting the job regularly to see that 
he is keeping his book along the lines intended. 

It is well to avoid starting on the hypothesis 
that a foreman who is unfamiliar with the method 




117 




















































































Estimating Without Loss 


will obtain the desired results without any effort 
on the part of the office. If you merely give him 
the list of items and a general outline of what 
he is to do, you will certainly get a lot of costs, 
but the chances are you won’t have very much 
confidence in applying them to new work. While 
it does not make much difference how the costs 
are kept, it is absolutely necessary that the man 
who is going to use the results be thoroughly 
familiar with the method used by the foreman 
in keeping them. For this reason the more nearly 
all the foremen work to the same system, the 
more useful will the results be. 

Even on a job of moderate size a foreman is 
required to keep a good many records and he is 
prone to feel that any additional work of this 
kind is uncalled for. It is wise, therefore, to make 
his initial experience with this new idea a pleas¬ 
ant one. The best way to avoid the necessity of 
making corrections is to go to the job about two 
days after the material has arrived and start the 
book in person, having discussed the matter a 
few days before in a general way with the fore¬ 
man. 

Knowing approximately what has been done to 
date, you will be able to bring the record up tc 
date by asking a few questions and letting the 
man do his own figuring. It will not require more 
than a half hour at the outside, and the result 
will be a very favorable impression on his part, 
for if five or six days can be disposed of in a half 
hour, one day will not consume a whole lot of time 
when taken alone. 


118 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 


The classification of labor cost items now in 
use is the result of numerous changes, and the 
unit labor costs now obtained on various jobs can 
be compared, and estimated labor units for new- 
work readily applied. 

The cost record books as now used provide foi 
over one hundred items and therefore cover prac¬ 
tically any job. It might be well to point out, 
however, that not more than forty or fifty of these 
items will be required on any one job unless it be 
one of a very complicated nature. 

A study of the record book will show that the 
total payroll charged to the job is divided into the 
following main sub-divisions: 

1. Non-Productive Labor: Covering all work 
which does not directly result in bringing the 
installation nearer to completion. 

I have found that the best way to define this 
distinction is by stating that the item of non¬ 
productive labor covers all work which is not done 
with the tools or hands, while the productive labor 
is performed by men working with tools or hands. 
For the purpose of cost-keeping, the labor ex¬ 
pended on temporary light and power is regarded 
as non-productive, as well as the labor involved 
in tearing out work and replacing material already 
installed and previously recorded. It is obvious 
that an error would result from charging the costs 
of installing any material to the usual item a sec¬ 
ond time, for the reason that the unit costs are 
derived from the net amount of materials user! 
on the job as will be more fully explained later. 

119 


Estimating Without Loss 


2. Roughing (or Conduit Work): This head 
ing covers the entire cost of the pipe work, includ¬ 
ing panel boxes and pull boxes. 

A glance at the detailed classification will show 
that the entire cost of installing the branch cir¬ 
cuit conduit, including all outlet boxes, is kept as 
one item, and no attempt is made to arrive at the 
cost of installing an outlet box. In this connec¬ 
tion, it would be well to explain that all attempts 
to obtain costs on installing outlet boxes separate 
from the cost of the conduit work have failed. 
Each foreman undertook to make the desired 
separation, but the results indicated that the 
separation was purely arbitrary, because both op¬ 
erations are usually simultaneous, and therefore 
a wide variation in the costs was recorded. 

For this reason it was decided to keep the costs 
on this item in the only practical and sure way, 
and to record the length of conduit run between 
outlets of all kinds, including ceiling outlets, 
brackets, switches, receptacles, and low-tension 
outlets. A difference of one or two feet in the 
average length of run between outlets will, under 
the same conditions, be reflected by a variation 
in the unit labor cost. 

3. Pulling Wire: This heading covers the 
cost of pulling the various sizes grouped as shown, 
but not the cost of connecting, which is usually 
done at a later date and is more readily applied 
to the apparatus connected. The cost of all rig¬ 
ging of reels and tackle is included and the price 
per thousand feet is recorded as being the easiest 
unit to remember. 


120 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 

4. Switchboard, Panelboards and Apparatus: 
This heading covers the costs indicated, and on a 
job of moderate size, the items under this group 
may readily be considered a part of the fifth and 
last classification. 

5. Connecting and Finishing. No effort has 
been made to carry this list out to its logical con¬ 
clusion. The items indicated will prove sufficient 
when taken in connection with the blank spaces. 

The entire list of labor items is so arranged 
that the unit costs arrived at, in most cases, 
correspond with the items of material appearing 
in an estimate, and are therefore convenient, as 
the units can be quickly applied by an experienced 
man, while the extensions can be made by anyone. 

It will be found that 90 per cent of the labor 
on the average job can be figured by the appli¬ 
cation of about three dozen unit labor costs, many 
of which do not tend to change with the various 
building conditions, and can therefore be used as 
standard in practically all cases. Certain costs 
will vary slightly within certain well defined 
limits, while others, particularly the costs on con¬ 
duit, will vary to a considerable extent. Where 
variations occur, it will be found that some defi¬ 
nitely known condition is responsible and in many 
instances, these conditions can be forecast with a 
fair degree of accuracy when figuring new work. 

Wiring work is mainly a matter of numerous 
repetitions of very similar items, and for this rea¬ 
son it will be found that at least 75 per cent of 
the labor on a job can be figured with only a very 
limited number of costs at hand. If this propor- 


121 


Estimating Without Loss 

tion of the labor estimate is correct, the chance 
of making a serious error in the remainder is ex¬ 
tremely small. 

The following general outline covers the points 
which must be taken into consideration in arriving 
at labor costs on electrical installations in this 
manner: 

1. The costs obtained must be approximately 
correct, and therefore both the intermediate steps 
and the final results must be readily subject to 
check. 

Instructions to Foremen Keeping Labor Costs 

On the first page enter the total payroll 
for each day, giving the date. The amount 
should be taken from the time book. 

Read the complete labor cost items, care¬ 
fully noting the general groups and method 
of arrangement. 

Having allowed sufficient space for the pay¬ 
roll, on succeeding pages open accounts for 
each of the nine items under Non-Productive 
Labor and all other items which are required 
on the job under- consideration. 

Use at least one page for each item and 
copy the title as well as the item number at 
the top of the page. 

Once each week add the individual items 
and compare with the payroll, as recorded in 
this book, correcting any error. 

In making subdivisions of time it is gen¬ 
erally sufficient to work to the nearest hour. 

It is desirable for the foreman to express 
an opinion as to conditions on each operation 
and make suggestions as to how labor costs 
can be reduced on future work. 

Whenever an unusual condition arises, give 
details to enable estimator to provide for 
same. 

2. The total labor charged to the job must be 
accounted for in arriving at the unit labor costs. 


122 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 

Experience indicates that costs based on partial 
records are apt to be weighted and are therefore 
misleading. In other words, the actual unit cost 
in any particular instance must include the full 
amount expended in the installation of that item 
even though a rather large proportion of the time 
spent was devoted to maintaining the work as 
first installed. 

3. The selection of items on which costs are 
to be kept must be made with due regard for the 
possibility of keeping each item accurately and 
therefore no element of judgment on the part o* 
the individual making the charges should be in¬ 
troduced, otherwise the personal equation of the 
individual will make it impossible to use the re¬ 
sults intelligently. 

4. The items to be used, when once estab¬ 
lished, should be standardized so that the results 
on various jobs can be compared, so that improve¬ 
ments due to different methods of installation can 
be noted, and lastly so that the various employees 
may become familiar with the system and may 
see that the results are obtained in the same way 
on all jobs. 

5. The daily payroll must be divided and 
charged each day to the items by the foreman 
whose duty it is to assign the workmen to their 
tasks. He is the only man who can know what 
each workman is doing, and therefore he is the 
only man who cannot dodge this responsibility, 
should the accuracy of the results at any time be 
questioned. 


123 


Estimating Without Loss 


6. The items selected must be very clearly de¬ 
scribed and in sufficient detail to remove the pos¬ 
sibility of misunderstanding on the part of the 
foreman. Blank item numbers should be pro¬ 
vided for recording unusual work. It is easy to 
add several sub-divisions if desired but impos¬ 
sible to make an arbitrary division of one charge 
covering two operations. On the other hand, it 
is unwise to provide a larger number of items than 
is strictly necessary, or than the foreman can 
readily learn. 

Figures Should Be Checked 

7. No attempt should be made to record the 
material installed daily on the job, because this 
method of obtaining the quantities has been found 
to be impractical and to consume an enormous 
amount of time, and for the best reason of all, 
because the results are always found to be in error 
when checked against the amount of material 
shipped to the job. It will be found that the quan¬ 
tities can be far more readily and accurately ob¬ 
tained from the vouchers or invoices themselves, 
together with the credit slips. It will, of course, 
be necessary to obtain a few of the quantities 
from the plans or from the foreman, as, for in¬ 
stance, the number of outlets and detail descrip¬ 
tions of job conditions, methods employed, to¬ 
gether with his comments, which should be en¬ 
tered from time to time in the space provided in 
the cost book. 

8. The final tabulation of the results should 
be performed by some individual other than the 
foreman, who is sufficiently familiar with the job 


124 


Simple Method of Keeping Labor Cost Records 

to note any obvious discrepancy in the total 
amount of any class of material, and this individ¬ 
ual should consult the foreman and apply all pos¬ 
sible checks in carrying out the work of tabula¬ 
tion. 

9. The results should be recorded in an orderly 
and logical way for future reference, and the 
quantities of material upon which each unit cost 
is based should be recorded so that a fair idea of 
the value of the unit can be had. Notes should 
also be made covering the type of building and 
kind of construction, the general conditions ex¬ 
perienced, the foreman’s name, and the existing 
rate of pay. 

Get Foreman’s Interest 

10. Lastly, having used every possible means 
of getting the true costs and eliminating large 
errors, the results and the fact that they are be¬ 
ing used should be communicated at least verbally 
to the foreman who handled the job. Nothing 
will tend to produce interest in his part of the 
work so much as the knowledge that the results 
are of importance, while his interest will be gone 
forever once he feels that the results of his work 
are not being used. 

It has been found impractical to apply the cost 
keeping system to more jobs than could be prop¬ 
erly handled in the office; it is far better to keep 
a smaller number of accurate costs rather than a 
larger number of records, the accuracy of which 
might be subject to serious doubt. The difficul¬ 
ties involved, however, in keeping cost on three 
or four jobs at one time are not serious and the 
knowledge that you can price the various items 


125 


Estimating Without Loss 


in any kind of an estimate with definitely known 
labor costs, will give a most satisfactory feeling 
of confidence in the amount of labor allowed for 
the job. 

I am convinced that the slight amount of time 
consumed in keeping the daily record is more than 
offset by an unconscious effort on the part of the 
foreman to make a good showing, to say nothing 
of the beneficial results of thoroughly knowing 
the conditions met with on the job and the pos¬ 
sibilities of making improvements in the method 
of handling work. In other words, the construc¬ 
tion force should be able to obtain from the cost 
books enough information to more than offset the 
time spent in keeping the record. The benefits 
derived in the ability to estimate new work cor¬ 
rectly will far outweigh the comparatively slight 
cost of the clerical work involved in working out 
the unit figures. 

In the cost record book, no distinction is made 
between work done under the contract and that 
done on extra orders, if any are experienced, ex¬ 
cept where work is removed and replaced. The 
entire installation is regarded as a whole as far 
as costs are concerned. However, the proportion 
of extra work experienced should be noted as an 
explanation of the higher unit costs which will 
probably result. 











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